debit card and pin used

[forgiveorforget]

What is the name of your state? California

My mom lost her debit card that has a visa logo on it. Her card was used to rack up over $3500. The transactions were not made as a credit card but as a debit. Someone used it with the pin. We don't know who it could of been!!! We put a dispute in with her bank and now they say they will send a form and to fill it out. They also said since the pin was used to do all the transactions that we have to go to the police department and fill out a police report and that we have to go to each of the places where the transactions were made and request video tape. I know it's our responsibility to report it to the police but do we have to do our own investigation of who done it? I thought it was the banks responsibility? Rent and bills are due and no money in account. Will the bank give me a provisional credit or is my mom out of luck until we find out who it is?

 

[Veronica1228]

What is the name of your state? California

My mom lost her debit card that has a visa logo on it. Her card was used to rack up over $3500. The transactions were not made as a credit card but as a debit. Someone used it with the pin. We don't know who it could of been!!! We put a dispute in with her bank and now they say they will send a form and to fill it out. They also said since the pin was used to do all the transactions that we have to go to the police department and fill out a police report and that we have to go to each of the places where the transactions were made and request video tape. I know it's our responsibility to report it to the police but do we have to do our own investigation of who done it? I thought it was the banks responsibility? Rent and bills are due and no money in account. Will the bank give me a provisional credit or is my mom out of luck until we find out who it is?

The fact that the PIN was used does make complicate this a bit. I think it's odd that the bank wants your mother to do this investigation too, but it could be that they are a smaller bank and don't have the resources. I'm curious as to how this could have happened where she lost the card AND the person who found it knows the PIN. I suggest that she go to the police department ASAP and file the report.

This is kind of a shot in the dark, but have you heard any reports on the local news about "skimming"? Does your mom have any idea where she last had the card? Was it captured by an ATM? This might amount to nothing, but if she is a victim of skimming this would make more sense.

 

[forgiveorforget]

It's a major banking facility... The last time she remembers using it was at the atm. We already made a report with the police.

 

[Veronica1228]

It's a major banking facility... The last time she remembers using it was at the atm. We already made a report with the police.

Does your mother remember which ATM machine she last used it at? If she does she should contact the owner of that terminal and see if they know anything about a skimming scam at their machine. I'm not quite ready to give up on this theory yet. Basically, there are two things that could have happened here. Either your mother is a victim of skimming or the person who has the card is someone that she knows. Perhaps a family member is responsible. Does she have any idea? How many people know her PIN besides her?

I have a feeling that the reason her bank is having you do all of the leg work is that in most Debit Card Fraud situations it is used as a credit card and easy to verify just by comparing signatures. However, if a PIN is used it is most likely a scenario where the perpetrator is someone that the victim knows and is therefore reluctant to press charges. It is also more difficult to prove that the withdrawals weren't authorized. The theory is that if you give someone your PIN then you are allowing them access to your funds.

I'm afraid that your mother's bank is basically asking you to PROVE that this is fraud due to the unusual circumstances.