Warning: Scam may affect your child support payments

[Christina Rowe]

If you receive child support payments through a debit card then you need to know about a new scam targeting parents. Thousands of parents across the country have reported receiving messages asking them for personal information about their debt cards.

The card, known as EPPICard, is given to custodial parents as a way to receive child support payments instead of a direct bank deposit. The parent can use the card as a credit card in stores and also withdraw cash. It seemed like a great idea until these thieves decided to try and steal child support from innocent children.To target parents who need child support to take care of their children is disgraceful.

If you have an EPPICard, do not give out your personal information to anyone claiming to be a representative of the company. They will never email you or call you. If someone does call, hang up and then call the customer service number on the back of the card.

You may even want to consider contacting your child support enforcement agency in your state and asking that your child support payments be deposited directly into your bank account. If you choose to keep the card, make sure to check your statements online frequently. They do not send out paper statements in the mail, so you need to make sure all charges are accurate.