Senior News Line: Stay calm to foil scammers

This is a new scam, but then it’s what we expect from thieves — yet another way to steal from us. This one involves our innocent-seeming bank debit card, a scammer and a pair of scissors.

Here’s how it works: You’ll get a call from someone claiming to be from your bank who says there is fraudulent activity happening on your account and they need your help. You’ll be told that you need to act fast before you lose all your money.

The scammers will tell you to cut up your debit card, but not to cut up the little microchip on the card. Put all the pieces, they’ll say, in an envelope and leave it at your door, because a bank “official” is going to rush over to take possession of the evidence.

Oh, and there will be one last little detail they’ll need — your bank personal identification number, or PIN. By that time, if you’re sufficiently rattled, you’ll willingly tell them the number.

A scammer will quickly show up at your door to grab the envelope. Armed with that little card chip and your PIN, they can quickly empty your account.

The key is for you to not get rattled, to not let scammers direct your actions. If you’re suspicious about any call, hang up.

It’s OK — even preferable in this case — to be rude. Call the bank or company on their official number and ask if they were trying to contact you about fraudulent activity on your account.

If your debit card, or any card, expires and the bank or company sends you a replacement, cut up the old one.

Be sure to cut through the chip, the magnetic strip on the back and the numbers, as well as your name. Divide them up in multiple trash bags to keep the pieces apart.

Remember: Stay calm to defeat the scammers.