by Chris McCullough

With the holidays now in our rear-view mirrors, we’ve launched into 2012 and have a long-list of priorities on which to focus. As determined as we are to make 2012 a stronger year than the previous one, we’ve got to do our best to avoid any speed bumps that might knock us off track.

Falling victim to identity theft can be a major speed bump when it comes to reaching our goals. Let’s talk about safely using your debit card at an ATM or other point-of-sale machine.

Thieves can capture your card information and Personal Identification Number (PIN) by attaching card readers, or “skimmers,” to the ATMs and tiny cameras to record your fingers punching in the PIN. These card skimmers are most often placed on ATMs and gas station pumps that accept cards.

One trend for thieves is to apply their equipment to outdoor ATMs on Friday evening and capture all the activity during the weekend, removing the equipment Sunday before the bank opens on Monday. Once the skimmers have your card information and PIN, they can be in and out of your account within hours.

Here are some basic ways to avoid being the subject of a card skimmer:

• Look for anything unusual or suspicious when you insert your card – Does anything look loose, tampered with or just plain strange? If so, do not use it.
• Look for unusual instructions on the display screen, blank screens or signs affixed to them indicating the screen directions have been changed.
• Get in the habit of using one hand to cover the other one when typing in your PIN.
• Set up e-mail or text alerts to notify you of your balance periodically. A daily alert can be set up for those wanting to be extra cautious.
• Make sure your bank has updated phone numbers for you, including a mobile number. How many times has your phone number changed since you set up your account? If a bank notices something on an account and suspects fraud, it will try and contact the customer as soon as possible, but an out-of-date phone number gives the bank no way to get in contact with the customer.

At most banks, including Rabobank, receiving alerts through text messages or e-mail when activity has occurred on your account is the best way to recognize identity theft. Contact your local financial institution to set these up on your accounts and avoid a costly speed bump.

Chris McCullough is Rabobank, N.A. Vice President and Branch Manager in Murrieta. Rabobank, N.A. has 119 retail branches in California, including Murrieta. Rabobank received the highest numerical score among retail banks in California in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study^SM. Study based on 51,620 total responses measuring 19 providers in California and measures opinions of consumers with their primary banking provider. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in January 2011. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.