If you're a GM card holder, or are thinking about becoming one, you should be aware of the dangers of losing the cards. It doesn't matter whether you get your card from your credit union, or from a vending machine, they can all be compromised.
In most instances, a stolen GM card is reported by the bank within days of theft. This is when thieves make purchases at the card's terminal and in most cases get their card with their purchase. Then, once they have a card in their possession, they start to refill it, often by using the same card.
They will then go through all the information that the cardholder has entered on the ATM terminal, trying to determine how much they need to withdraw. By using the same card to do so, they can make purchases at a local grocery store or gas station without raising any red flags or even having a receipt.
Once they have everything they need to empty the card, they will try to withdraw money from other ATMs and credit cards that may be linked to the account. This is how they can obtain the most money, as long as they have access to the cards, and the card can be swiped with their stolen card.
You can prevent this from happening, by not giving out your PIN for just anyone to use. It would be in your best interest if you only gave out the PIN to people you know or trust. In many cases, this includes those that you've already given your card to. This way, the thief doesn't have access to all of your card information and they aren't able to use it.
You should also be careful that the ATM machine where you swipe your card doesn't have a reader that's installed on the machine. This allows the person who owns the machine to see all of the information that is contained on the card and could give them access to the full amount of money on the card, which can be very dangerous.
If you don't want to lose your card, and you need to make a transaction right away, you should make sure that the ATM that you are using accepts the GM card. Otherwise, you can use another ATM that will accept this particular brand.
In order to get a replacement card, it would be in your best interest to have a copy of the card that you carry. Make sure you keep this copy safe and secure in a location that you can easily access it, such as your wallet or car glove box.
It's always important to pay attention to what your card is doing while you're using it. After all, this is your money, and it's meant to be used responsibly.
