Warning for cadets traveling this summer to CST

In our parents' Facebook group, we've learned that 4 of our cadets who were traveling to Ft. Knox for summer training have had their debit cards hacked, most likely while in an airport. Four hacked cadets that we know about is a HUGE percentage of the cadets our parents group represents. If you or your son or daughter has yet to leave for summer training, suggest they leave their debit cards at home.

Here's some general tips for cadets:

* Shield debit cards using a magnetic blocker (or in a wallet wrapped in duct tape and foil). This method has questionable results though because hackers have ways around this, and it may only protect you from a small subset of hackers that perhaps could just as easily steal your wallet out of your pocket.
• Take enough cash to pay for anything you might purchase at the airport, like snacks, so you don't have to use a card at all while in an airport. You are traveling on government orders and shouldn't really need money for anything.
• If you do take your debit card because you absolutely need it for some reason, consider taking a backup pre-paid Visa card in case your main debit card is compromised while traveling.
• If the airport staff tries to charge for luggage, ask to speak to a supervisor. Supervisors usually know that cadets do not have to pay baggage fees. If you do have to pay for baggage using a debit card, be sure to check accounts diligently for fraudulent activity. Consider using the prepaid visa card instead.
• Consider giving a trusted person at home access and instructions to diligently check accounts for any suspicious activity.
• Instruct the bank to call a parent or trusted adult if any suspicious activity is detected. You won't have your phones all that much, if at all, and when you do have your phone (maybe at night), your ability to troubleshoot may be limited by time and lack of internet access.
• Inform your bank the dates and locations of your travel, so they will be aware that charges from China or Wisconsin are probably not you if you're in Louisville with no ability to purchase anything.

Good luck. Stay safe. Hope it doesn't happen to you.

Set up alerts to come to your phone for debit and credit card transactions.

Capt MJ said:

Set up alerts to come to your phone for debit and credit card transactions.

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That's partly the point. Cadets don't have their phones for days at a time if at all during CST

payitforward said:

That's partly the point. Cadets don't have their phones for days at a time if at all during CST

Click to expand...

Add a parent to account. Add their phone to profile. Use their phone as alert phone. All can be undone later if necessary.

Or, put daily limits on how much can be drawn out on a debit card in a 24-hour period. Decline the feature that auto-charges any amount exceeding the actual balance.

Or, get one of those credit cards that parents can put cash on, and that is the limit of what can be charged. Alerts can be set up on that, and account co-managed.

All band aids, but some might be helpful if cadet isn't in a situation where they can monitor account activity.

Different scenario, but when I handled Elder Mom's finances from afar, but wanted her to have financial independence and me, peace of mind, we sat down at her bank and set all these up. I could see when, where and how much, and ignored it, until I saw an anomaly on her debit card. Was able to act immediately.