My friend has no idea of how the debit card could have been used without an initial PIN- and from what the bank says, neither does the bank.

Here in the USA, I believe that businesses still accept checks but some refuse cash. The only use I have had for checks in years is for my rent so I do keep checks on hand.

Backwoodsman at 27 Nov 22 - 02:33 AM mentioned direct bank transfers. Does that require one's presence at said bank?

I very much like the idea of an 'RFID blocking card'- I just looked it up. Evidently it has been around for quite awhile; as usual, I'm a couple of jumps behind. However, that doesn't protect online purchases and here in southeast Alaska with limited local stores, we do a lot of shopping online. sheesh. I dunno.