Someone stole my debit card, bought $700 of shit from my bank account

[JohnnyCougar]

Ahh, the holidays.

I opened a tab at this bar, and forgot to close it. I was waiting to close my tab, but I got involved in a conversation, and thus forgot about closing my tab. I left town, and as soon as I arrived at my parents house, I realized I had left my debit card at the bar in Chicago. I went back to Chicago last night to pick up my card, but it was not at the bar.

I asked the bar owner if they had my card, and told him the date I left the card there. He immediately got defensive and said "I didn't see you here that night." I was, of course, at the bar, and it's funny, because I didn't see him there that night. But I didn't think much of it at the time.

Today I went to the bank and canceled by card, but I found out that someone spent $700 on it at Target and Walgreens. I have not signed the back of my card, and I wrote "See ID" in the signature box in case this ever happened. Apparently, no one checks ID anymore when you use credit cards/debit cards.

The card is cancelled, now. But I don't know what to do. My banker said I will get the money back, but that's not enough. I want to find out who took it and spent all that money. I am 100% sure I left it at the bar. I went to the bar today to "speak politely" with the owner, but the place was closed for the holiday. Someone that works there (or the owner himself) obviously took it, or sold it off to someone. I swear to god I can't wait till that bar opens up after christmas, because I'm gonna tear those people a new asshole.

But I wanna go to the police. My banker said that the police won't solve anything, and that going to them would be wasting my time. I see otherwise. Should I go to the Chicago police, or should I contact the FBI? Credit card fraud is pretty serious. Who handles these cases?

They bought gas twice with my card too. Can people look up the time of transaction and look at the closed circuit security cameras at the gas station and get the guy's plates?

I don't care if I get the money back, I want these people arrested.

[Pegleg Thd]

1. That's why I won't have

a debit card..

[Cha]

2. I thought they had to have your

pin number to make transactions at tartget and walgreens?

I hope you find out and I think the police would be standard procedure no matter what the bank says.

[AntiCoup2K4]

7. Not neccessarily.

Many stores now treat debit cards & credit cards exactly the same, and get a signature at the end of the transaction instead of the PIN number. It's a dangerous trend, as not all debit cards have the same theft protection that most credit cards do.

Unfortunately, since Johnny didn't sign the back of the card, the cashier had nothing to compare it to. Not that I'm blaming him - I never sign my cards either. I figure if they ever DO get stolen, I'm not going to help them learn how to forge my name. And unfortunately, very few retail establishments ask for ID when paying by either form of plastic, though they still want your life story if you dare to write a check. :shrug:

[JohnnyCougar]

11. I didn't sign it, but I did write "See ID" in the signature box

to remind cashiers to check. Of course, they don't.

It has to be someone that works at the bar, or the owner himself. That should narrow the search down for the FBI or police.

[Droopy]

3. I don't think there's much you can do, Johnny

I don't know how they would trace the person who used the card. I understand wanting to see the people who did that arrested, though, and I wouldn't blame you for trying. Good luck.

[JohnnyCougar]

6. Who would handle a case like this?

The FBI or the police?

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

4. Can/will you ID the bar for us so that those of us who drink in Chicago

avoid it?

[JohnnyCougar]

5. perhaps when this is all over

I want to talk with the Bar owner first. They're closed today and tomorrow, so you won't be able to go there anyways. But if I am sure that the bar was at fault (I am about 99% sure right now) then I will let everyone know.

[mia]

8. This happened to me with my credit card.

In less than 2 days they charged $2.000+ for clothing, expensive meals, gas for 4 big cars - and dry cleaning. I made a police report and they were caught through the dry cleaning ticket.

Maybe they picked up a prescription at Walgreens.

[Wilber_Stool]

9. Tell the you think is was a

terrorist what stole your card. Other than that, they don't give a shit.

[blue sky at night]

10. I am not questioning why you did it, but.......

My card leaves my wallet for a short time only......I guess to run the tab you had to give it up, but I wouldn't have. Guess the bar can't trust the customers. Next time go to a bar that gets the card when you leave? Just a thought. BTW, I got a notice from my corporate card to never let your Hotel Key Card out of your sight, as it has all of your Credit Card Information on it. Someone with a card reader and encoder can rip you off. Watch it out there kids.
I almost forgot: for God's sake yes, get the Police Involved, hell I would take one over to the place if you can arrange it, just call them from outside the joint to make your report.

[SOteric]

12. Target and Walgreens are out the money,

They'd appreciate your taking the matter to the police, if only to get them an incident report. And likely, they have surveillance videos, if it's not too long after the incident, they, themselves might like to file fraud charges against the perpetrators.

I'm very interested in why any reputable banker would discourage a theft victim from seeing the authorities.

[7th_Sephiroth]

13. he's right

in the case of this kind, the stolen card equates to theft whenever the card is used both upon you and the store the card is used at

[Ithuilwen]

14. Not a credit card

Go for it and good luck.

A few points.

1) IF it's a DEBIT card (only) and not a credit card. You are NOT covered by credit card loss limitations. Debits come immediately out of your bank account.

2) If it is a debit card, how did they get your PIN number to use it as debit card?

3) IF it's a CREDIT card, and you did NOT sign the back as REQUIRED by ALL Visa/MC vendor banks, etc, the bank CAN hold you liable, since you did NOT use full ID certifications (signature) that they require to avoid fraud with the card. But, they will generally not hold you to this. ("See ID" doesn't mean a ratshit.)

4) No vendor/merchant will let you get at any of their information with respect to transaction/video/etc. You have to go through bank offering you the card. Police are overworked and won't bother; small potatoes, too. Bank will write it off as bad debt/cost of business and won't bother with that footwork you want; it's cheaper for them, too.

5) Check this out:
http://www.state.me.us/ag/index.php?r=clg&s=chap26
This is for Maine, but will be similar to most states.

6) Pay cash at the bar.

[JohnnyCougar]

16. That's a shame.

4) No vendor/merchant will let you get at any of their information with respect to transaction/video/etc. You have to go through bank offering you the card. Police are overworked and won't bother; small potatoes, too. Bank will write it off as bad debt/cost of business and won't bother with that footwork you want; it's cheaper for them, too.

Why would any credit card theif even think twice about taking someone's card, then? Is there any punishment?

[gmoney]

17. Much easier for the f*ckin bank to just charge you higher rates

the cost of fraud gets passed on to the lucky consumer one way or another, so of course they don't waste money on recovery or prosecution except sometimes in wholesale cases... no wonder we have so many criminals...

[Flammable Materials]

15. Once the credit card company pays you back, that's it.

I had this happen to me once. I went to some of the places where the card was used and looked at the receipts and it was clearly not my signature. I even got descriptions of the people who used it, and things that they said to the sales clerks, but none of it mattered. The police said it was up to the credit card company and the insurance company to prosecute, and neither one of them seemed to show any interest in the information I uncovered.