President Barack Obama smiles after signing an executive order to improve security measures for government credit and debit cards during an event at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
October 17, 2014 - 11:30 AM
WASHINGTON - The Secret Service is charged with protecting the president, but who's watching his wallet?
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 said Friday at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
"They thought there was some fraud going on," he said, chatting while announcing 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.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014