Barack Obama’s credit card ‘declined in cafe’

THE Secret Service is charged with protecting the president, but who’s watching his wallet?
US President Barack Obama has revealed his under-used credit card was declined last month. Picture: APUS President Barack Obama has revealed his under-used credit card was declined last month. Picture: AP
US President Barack Obama has revealed his under-used credit card was declined last month. Picture: AP

When his credit card was declined last month while dining in New York, President Barack Obama wondered if he had become a victim of identity theft.

“It turned out, I guess I don’t use it enough,” Obama told an audience at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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“They thought there was some fraud going on,” he said as he announced a government plan to tighten security for debit cards that transfer federal benefits like pension payments to millions of Americans.

“I was trying to explain to the waitress `No, I really think that I’ve been paying my bills.”’

Fortunately first lady Michelle Obama was able to whip out a credit card they could use.

Identity theft is a growing problem and an estimated 100 million Americans have been affected by security breaches in the past year at retailers like Target and Home Depot.

“Even I’m affected by this,” he said.

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