How can someone use my debit card without knowing my PIN? If you make 3 false entries, the card stops working. If you make unusual purchases, the bank stops the card from working and calls me. This is actually a big hassle, as I once went to buy gas, and my card wasn’t accepted. It turned out the bank had temporarily shut off my card because I’d made a purchase in another state (internet purchase) earlier that day. So while I want to be careful of identity theft, I’m not sure I want to get rid of my debit card. I am a big believer in paying cash, whether by debit or check.