ATM & Debit Card Security

ATM and Debit Card Security Tips

If your credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen, federal law limits your liability for unauthorized charges. Acting fast limits your liability for charges you didn’t authorize. Report the loss or theft of your card to the bank or card issuer as quickly as possible. Once you report the loss of your ATM or debit card, federal law says you cannot be held liable for unauthorized transfers that occur after that time. As a matter of course, it is always good practice to do the following:

  • Follow up with a letter or email.
  • Check your card statement carefully for transactions you didn’t make. Report these transactions to the card issuer as quickly as possible. Be sure to send the letter to the address provided for billing errors.
  • Check if your homeowner's or renter’s insurance policy covers your liability for card thefts. If not, some insurance companies will allow you to change your policy to include this protection.

As a matter of course, please consider the best practices listed below and employ them whenever possible:

  • Don’t disclose your account numbers over the phone unless you initiate the call.
  • Guard your account information. Never leave it out in the open or write it on an envelope.
  • Keep a record of your account numbers, expiration dates, and the telephone numbers of each card issuer so you can report a loss quickly.
  • Draw a line through blank spaces on charge or debit slips above the total so the amount can’t be changed.
  • Tear up copies and save your receipts to check against your monthly statements.
  • Cut up old cards — cutting through the account number — before you throw them away.
  • Open your monthly statements promptly and compare them to your receipts. Report mistakes or discrepancies as soon as possible.
  • Don't carry your PIN in your wallet, purse, or pocket — or write it on your ATM or debit card. Commit it to memory.
  • Never write your PIN on the outside of a deposit slip, an envelope, or other papers that could be lost or looked at.
  • Carefully check your ATM or debit card transactions
  • Periodically check your account activity, especially if you bank online. Compare the current balance and transactions on your statement to those you've recorded. Report any discrepancies to your card issuer immediately. 

Source: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Information: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov
 

If you suspect identity theft or fraud involving your North Shore Bank account:

  1. Contact North Shore Bank at (978) 538-7000.
  2. Contact the following three credit bureaus to have a fraud alert placed on your credit report.
  3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov
  4. File a report with your local law enforcement agency