Debit card fraud

How debit card fraud happens

Debit card fraud happens when someone steals or uses without your permission your debit card or debit card information. Your information or your card is used to:

A person might steal your debit card information by:

Protect yourself from debit card fraud

Debit cards issued by financial institutions have a computer chip that makes transactions more secure. The computer chip works with your PIN to make sure you give permission for each transaction. This helps protect you against fraud if someone steals your card.

There are also certain actions you may take to protect yourself from debit card fraud. Follow these tips to protect your debit card and your personal information.

Keep your PIN secret

Choose a PIN that is hard to guess. For example, avoid using your birthday, Social Insurance Number, address or telephone number as your PIN.

Be sure to keep your PIN secret:

Contact your financial institution and change your PIN immediately if you suspect someone knows it.

If you share your PIN with someone, you may be responsible for transactions you haven’t made or approved.

Reduce your daily limit

A daily limit is the amount of money you may spend or withdraw from your account each day. It applies to both ATMs and in-store transactions.

Contact your financial institution if you think your limit is too high.

Protect your debit card and your debit card information

To better protect yourself from debit card fraud, you may also:

If you're a victim of debit card fraud

If you’re a victim of debit card fraud, take the following steps:

  1. write down what happened and how you first noticed the fraud
  2. contact your financial institution right away to tell them about the fraud
  3. take note of whom you talked to and when you spoke to them
  4. keep all documents that you think might be helpful when the police investigate the fraud
  5. contact your local police service to file a complaint
  6. if you believe a company (for example, your telephone company) has been hacked, contact it

Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre includes partners from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Competition Bureau of Canada. It is the central repository for information about fraud.

Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

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