A few years ago one of my debit card numbers got ripped off. They only make a couple test charges at an Apple store in Sweden so it wasn't that big of a deal to get it shut down and reversed.
Last night I happened to check my email on my Droid at my mom's retirement dinner and saw a notice from my other bank (ING) that my overdraft protection had been engaged. I have the Droid app for ING so I pulled up my account and saw a dozen charges in and around Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, on the 5th and 6th. The total was in the several hundred dollar range and climbing. I immediately called ING and got it shut down and started the dispute process.
Today I'm filling out the Affidavit of Unauthorized Use and totaled up the damage at $889.80. By law I'm not liable for it and they'll put it back in my account, but this is a massive pain in the ass to deal with the bank and fill out paperwork, not to mention not being able to use that account until I clean this up. I'm guessing the card number was stolen during my recent forays into eastern Montana. I visited lots of small, depressed communities. I also visited Billings, the largest city in the state.
In the future, no debit card use for travel, only my regular VISA card. I do this on bike trips anyway because I hate balancing my checkbook with dozens of gas stops and restaurant and hotel charges. But recently I've been traveling for work a lot and using that ING debit card for food and gas (corporate card for hotels), since my per diem gets put there automagically after I file my expense report.
So, watch yourself out there. The wolves are watching you.
