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When does borrowing a debit card become fraud?

On Behalf of | Jun 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense |

Whether you have children or just want your spouse to run to the store to buy something you need for your day, one thing you should watch out for is a fraud charge. Obviously, if you allow someone to take your card and give them a PIN number, then they have access to the funds on that card without question. However, if the store or shop needs to see the person’s ID or have them sign, they could be committing fraud by using the card.

Merchants who believe that someone is using a debit or credit card without permission may ask to see ID and then potentially may call the authorities if the card is not in that person’s name. While you may think that it would be easy to clear up that situation, it isn’t always, and someone you know could be charged with fraud.

What can you do to make it safer for your family to use your debit or credit cards with your permission?

One of the best things you can do is to set up an authorized account for secondary users. For example, if you have a credit card through your bank, you could ask them to add your child as an authorized user on your card. You may receive a new card in their name alone or one that has both of your names on the same card.

Doing this is the right legal method for allowing them to access your account. If you’re concerned about authorizing a card to a spouse or child, remember that many credit cards and debit cards now have apps where you can set up restrictions. For instance, some allow you to turn off the card or to block it from being used outside of the local area.

A charge for debit card fraud can be serious, whether it’s charged at the juvenile level or against an adult. To avoid issues like these, it’s always better to add authorized users. Then, if you see unusual charges or actions using your credit, you’ll be in a better position to know who used it and if you need to dispute those charges.

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