Orange patrol officers made extra trips back to the police station Tuesday as reports from crimes came in. Five different people walked in with complaints of money being stolen from their banking accounts with debit card information.
All five still had their cards, but somehow the numbers were stolen. One of the thefts was nearly $6,800. Four of the five were from accounts at a credit union with a local branch.
Detective Captain Robert Enmon said investigators were checking to see if the credit union information had been hacked. But unfortunately these days, debit and credit card fraud is common. Captain Enmon knows that well, not simply because he’s a law officer. He has had thefts from three different personal accounts.
He recalled that one account was hacked through PayPal. While working on patrol, he received a phone call from a computer company thanking him for his big purchase. “Stop that order,” he told them.
The fraud thefts are widespread and difficult to catch. Police have made arrests by watching places where the illegal purchases are delivered. Sometimes the orders made with stolen debit card information have been made to vacant houses.
Captain Enmon said sometimes thieves will make a test deposit on an account for a small amount, like $2.75, or even 80 cents to see if the card number works. If someone sees an unknown small deposit in their account they should immediately contact their financial institution.
In May, Stephen Lee, president and CEO of First Financial Bank, Southeast, told KOGT that fraud has reached “epidemic” levels. However, the same technology that crooks use gives power to consumers. Like Captain Enmon, Lee said people should check their accounts daily. Catching fraudulent charges early is a key to preventing thefts.
He also said old-fashioned checks are not safer than debit cards. Payroll checks have become one of the leading methods of fraud because checks and signatures can be created on computers.
First Financial and other companies have smartphone apps that allow customers to be notified by text message any time a debit card is used. Lee said he uses the method and recommends it to others.
Captain Enmon said his financial institutions worked with him on his fraud losses. But he now has a habit. “I check my account every day,” he said.
Social Media