When suddenly the shock when you go online to transfer money from her savings to your checking account and find that your bank already had needed to dip into your savings account to cover expenses in your checking account, you get the suspicion that you might be getting scammed. When looking closer, you find that someone had charged nearly $1,200 to your checking account someplace in Canada - and that someone wasn't you

Most people are aware about using their credit cards online and look for the lock box icon for encryption security or giving out crucial credit card information over the phone. The new fraud that is immerging is that the cards being exploited often are not credit cards, but debit cards that take money directly from customers' checking accounts.

Checking account still is drained by thieves are obtaining card numbers and then using the debit cards as credit cards at some merchant or other places where no personal identification number is needed.

Be particularly cautious about letting anyone take debit cards out of sight for payment especially by a waiter at a restaurant. At a restaurant, ask to punch your own number in. It's easy for someone to write down a number and use it immediately to call someplace and charge something.

The Federal Trade Commission tips on how to keep yourself safe from credit/debit card fraud:

Do:
Sign your cards as soon as they arrive.
Carry cards separately from your wallet.
Keep a record of account numbers, expiration dates, phone numbers and addresses of each company in a secure place.
Keep an eye on the card during transactions and get it back as quickly as possible.
Void incorrect receipts.
Destroy carbons.
Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly.
Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
Notify card companies in advance of a change of address.

Don’t
Lend the cards to anyone.
Leave cards or receipts lying around.
Sign blank receipts. If you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.
Write your account number on a post card or the outside of an envelope.
Give your account number over the phone.