As a society addicted to convenience, one of our preferred items of use to help rush us through our day is our bank or credit card. It provides quick payment processing times for purchases without all the headache of carrying cash and coin or trying to write a check. I have been a “Swiper” for years, not only for the convenience but to track my spending habits as well. This blog is specifically for Swipers.
A few weekends ago I was picking up some sandwiches at Cam’s Ham in Huntington (wonderful little restaurant who deserves a little positive press after dealing with me), while paying with my bank card for roughly a $7 order the cashier notified me that my card would not process. I knew that just couldn’t have been right, as a compulsive online bank balance checker, I knew I had enough money to cover at least a $7 transaction. I became frustrated and asked the cashier to run it again. She did, but still unable to process. So I, the person with enough money in her bank, apologized and paid with cash and change for my order. I left very confused and embarrassed. Convinced the cashier had made a mistake I went to find someone who could work a credit card machine properly. Around the corner was a drug store so I went in and tried to make a small purchase, again unable to process. I went to an ATM for an account balance. Card was still unable to process. Beyond frustrated at this point I went home and checked my account balance online. I reviewed my account, balance was as expected and no charges looked suspicious. I just couldn’t understand why my card wouldn’t work.
I began to look at my card thinking what is wrong with you crazy little card. Then it hits me, just like a light bulb popping up from my brain. Ah ha! The magnetic strip has been demagnetized. This made sense because I had switched to a new purse two days earlier and the purse had several magnetic closures. The detective in me had to see if I was right, so I tried to order something very inexpensive from amazon.com. Online purchases use card information, not the black stripe on the back. Sadly, I am no detective. Payment information declined. There was nothing I could do until Monday.
So I go to my bank, angry at this point because I’m sure they’ve made a mistake. Wrong. They helped me out. Apparently, my card information was stolen and sold on the internet. While I was attempting to purchase sandwiches at Cam’s Ham someone else was trying to make a 10 cent authorization in Los Angeles, Ca. The software my bank uses has several features to prevent fraud. The two purchases at almost the same time in two different areas red flagged my account and stopped all future transactions. The software didn’t call and let me know what happened, but it protected my money. I’m obviously no longer upset with my bank or cashiers. 
I had to call the fraud department and answer some question so a new card could be issued. I ask how did this happen. The representative explained that any time your card leaves your hands, you’re at risk. Her explanation was that the most common way this happens is at restaurants when you give your card to a server to pay your bill. The server can then write down information from your card or take a picture with a cell phone camera of the front and back of your card. She said that sometimes when they take a cell phone picture of your card they can send the information immediately and you can be a victim of fraud before you leave the restaurant.
So the point of all this babbling and whining is that we should all be more cautious. I’ve read these stories online, saw them on the news, and even went to lunch with friends who had information stolen during that lunch. I, like many others, continue to be a creature of habit and confident that something like this will never happen to me. 
What can you do to prevent this situation?

• Get a new card number if you’ve let your card leave the table and not followed it for processing. Your expiration date could be years away and the information may have already been stolen and no one has tried to use it yet.
• Take your card for processing, maybe before the bill is brought to your table go to the cashier station or the bar and pay there so you can watch what happens to your card.
• When you plan to go out to dinner, take cash.
• Check your bank statement, if your not sure about a charge call and ask, maybe you just forgot. The fraud representative said part of the scam is to make little purchases that won’t be noticed or questioned to verify that the account is still open and active.

The best thing about a bad situation is that it gives us an opportunity to learn something. For me I now truly intend to practice safe swiping to prevent my information from being swiped.
Jules Bills, Opening Soon Inc Program Coordinator