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http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=55981.83

Credit union's debit cards being defrauded

Stan Maddux
For The News-Dispatch

LA PORTE - Reports of more accounts being tapped into at a La Porte credit union are under investigation.

"I'd be leery about using debit cards right now," said Joyce Christenson, a teller at Generations Federal Credit Union, 706 Boyd Blvd., where at least 18 customers have been defrauded.

Christenson, who's in charge of debit card transactions at the credit union, said apparently someone is using a hand-held skimmer to lift account numbers from machines where debit cards were inserted.

The numbers are then placed onto counterfeit debit cards and have been used in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, she said.

So far, though, police don't know why so many accounts in such a short time period from one financial institution have been hit.

"We're working and trying to find a common link," Sgt. Paul Brettin said.

Detective John Butcher is heading the investigation.

The latest report was filed Monday night by a 31-year-old La Porte woman. According to police, she said two unauthorized charges totalling $143.91 were drawn from her account at Generations Federal Credit Union. The transactions originated from Ohio.

She also told police her bank card is in her possession at all times, leaving her confused as to how the withdrawals were made.

Also on Monday, a 40-year-old woman reported to police that a $200 transaction was made from her Generations Federal Credit Union account without her permission.

Butcher offered few answers, considering the investigation is still fresh.

"We'd like to see if there's a common thread between all of these. We don't know yet," Butcher said.

Christenson said a local gas station was originally thought to be the source of the skimmed debit card numbers, however, a credit union customer who lives in Texas later had her account used, leaving investigators unable to explain the source.

Primarily, Christenson said, the counterfeit debit cards have been used at Giant Eagle, a major retailer in the east, as well as at gas stations.

The user keeps buying with a card until exhausting the $300 a day purchase limit, she said.

"We don't find out until the customer comes in and asks how much they got in their account," Christenson said.

Brettin urged people to use a shredder to destroy bank statements and anything else that might contain a Social Security, bank account number or any other personal information.

He also said to use extreme caution before deciding to give out personal information over the telephone or on the Internet to due the prevalence of scams.