Infomarine On-Line Maritime News - Scammers are staking out Americans' front doors in a wily new debit card scheme

Debit cards don't typically offer the same protection. When your debit card is stolen or accessed by a criminal, the money comes out of your account immediately.

If you report the fraud within two business days, you're limited to $50 in losses. If you report the fraud after two days and within 60 days, you're limited to $500 in losses — not an insignificant amount. Worse yet, if you report the fraud after 60 days, you could lose the entire sum that was stolen from you. (4)

With checks, timeframes vary. The law says consumers have a year to report check fraud, but there is some leeway. For example, many banks require notification within 30 days, while others expect to be alerted within 14 days after the bank statement was sent out. (5)

Read more: Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

How to protect yourself against debit card fraud

As a consumer, it's important to take steps to protect yourself against debit card and check fraud. That includes knowing about the latest scams, including the one mentioned above.

But that doesn't mean a criminal won't try to steal your money another way. Perhaps they could steal a replacement debit card from you in the mail or steal checks you've written, altering the payee and cashing them.

One option you could look at for protection is to install a mailbox lock where the incoming mail slot remains accessible while the storage part remains locked to anyone who doesn't have the key. That could prevent a criminal from getting into your mail while allowing a mail carrier to deliver it.

You can also install a security camera outside your home that covers the area of your mailbox. However, this may only offer limited benefits. If a criminal is going to steal your mail, chances are they’re going to wear enough gear to mask their identity.

For debit cards, other fraud prevention methods include always knowing where your card is, covering the keypad when you enter your PIN and, when buying things online, making sure you shop on a legitimate, secure site while avoiding public WiFi networks.

In addition, look out for loose components on debit card readers at merchants. That could be an indication that a machine has been tampered with and a skimmer has been installed.

Other tips include monitoring your bank account regularly to check for fraudulent transactions and never responding to an unsolicited call, email or text that appears to be from your bank. If you have a concern, call your bank directly or visit a local branch.

Also, never give out your account or PIN over the phone. The same goes for your Social Security number (or other personal sensitive information as a general rule). Having this information could make it easy for a criminal to steal money from your account, and in some cases, steal your identity.

When it comes to checks, fraud prevention methods include writing checks with permanent markers or having them sent electronically from your bank. With the latter, there's a record with your bank of the intended payee, so it may be easier to prove that fraud has occurred.

It's also a good idea to bring checks to a post office and have them mailed out directly rather than leaving them in your mailbox to be picked up by a mail carrier. Of course, delivering checks in person is another secure option.

Ultimately, prevention is your greatest defense, so be proactive in learning about the latest safety measures and how scammers try to circumvent them.