Card misuse due to temporary card loss

Beside the classical theft of account, debit or credit cards, another type of card theft is constantly being reported: temporary loss.

The fraudsters often come from the immediate social environment of their victims. They observe their victims beforehand as they take out cash or pay by card, thereby managing to find out the PIN. They then steal the victim's card without this being noticed and put it back after use.

The type of card misuse frequently occurs over longer periods of time. As the card is never missing for very long, victims generally only notice what has happened when checking their account statements.

Tips for the general public:

• Never write down your PIN on the card itself and don't keep it together with your card either.
• Always conceal your PIN when entering it and make sure nobody comes too close to you – including friends, family or acquaintances.
• Activate text notifications (if offered by your bank). They will text your mobile right away whenever your card is used.