Today, credit card fraud has become a constant and pervasive threat, and debit cards aren’t safe from being stolen as well. Actually, The Federal Trade Commission counted 157,688 cases of credit card fraud in 2018 alone, which was almost a three-fold rise since 2014 and represented the largest category of reported identity theft. This is the reason why it becomes out of necessity to know where the risks are, so that you can better protect yourself from those intending to steal your information.
ATM Machines
For several years, thieves have been skimming information debit and credit card information from ATM machines, and the innovation of chip cards was partly developed to deal with these rising risks. However, thieves adapt to the credit card industry advances, since Consumer Reports notes they now have “shimmers” that can read chip-based cards.
Gas Stations
Gas stations are one of the most places from which thieves steal credit card information, as the pumps witness many customers and often receive minimal supervision. As a result, thieves install skimming software and sometimes small cameras that capture PIN numbers. This issue is so critical to the extent that the Secret Service has gotten involved to solve the problem. The agency found about 200 skimmers at 400 gas stations during a crackdown in 2018 alone.
Mobile Vendors
While there are many trustworthy mobile vendors who are trying to earn an honest living, there are also thieves who pretend to be such vendors. People who attend festivals, fairs, concerts, and other big events don’t know whether a vendor is legit or uses a card skimmer. The thing that can leave their credit card susceptible to being scammed.
Dining Establishments
While there are some honest restaurants that swipe your card in a visible location, many still run cards in the back of the house where you are not able to see it. In this case, it is more than likely that an establishment or individual server could swipe your card through a skimmer and charge more than just the cost of your meal.
Chain Retailers
Although large chain retail stores might be safe places to use your credit card because they invest more in security, the considerable number of people who swipe cards at retailers makes them particularly promising targets for thieves, and some have already managed to get through the security measures in place. Target, TJX, which operates T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s, and others have experienced data breaches that involve credit cards.
Online Retailers
Making an online transaction can leave your credit card information exposed at multiple points. As a result, your credit card information can be stolen by malware installed on your device, a middle person who intercepts the transmission, or a data breach of the retailer you buy from.
Anywhere That Stores Information
As long as you use your credit card, the risk of credit card theft will never end. Actually, any place that stores your credit card information could experience a data breach at any time during which a hacker gains access to your card information. Such types of thieving attacks have affected large and small sellers in several different industries.
How To Protect Your Credit Card
With the existence of several potential ways with which your credit card information can be compromised, you likely can’t completely eliminate the threat of credit and debit card theft. However, adopting the following steps can help you to better protect your card information.
Use High-Visibility ATMs
While any ATM machine is more than likely to have an installed skimmer, the ones that aren’t well-monitored are probably to be tampered with. Therefore, to reduce the risk posed by ATM skimmers, look for machines the same way you would try to minimize the potential of a mugging, try to use highly visible machines where there is a high-traffic, and preferably use the one that’s in a secure location, a bank, for example.
Check Readers at Gas Stations
in case you have to use a credit card at a gas station, thoroughly check the pump’s reader to make sure whether it’s been tampered with or not. If there are any unfamiliar stickers, if the inspection seal reads “void”, or if there are loose parts, consider paying inside, as your card is less likely to get stolen if you swipe it at the cash register.
Look At Other Nearby Readers
If you’re at a location where other, identical credit card readers are nearby, have a look at the other readers to check if they look similar to the one you’re using. If there’s a remarkable difference between the readers on two otherwise identical ATMs or fuel pumps, one could be attached with a skimmer. So, try to find somewhere else where you can use your card safely.
Jiggle the Reader
Always consider giving the reader a slight tug before you swipe your card at a nonmonitored location like an ATM or fuel pump. If anything seems loose and suspicious, don’t use your card there. A thief could have loosened something to install a tiny camera or skimmer.
Vet Mobile Vendors
Make sure to vet the mobile vendors before you hand over your credit or debit card to know whether they are running a legitimate business. For example, try to ask them about their location, check for pictures of their facility, and look them up online. This will help you to be sure that you are paying a real business and not someone who’s just a fake local or mobile vendor.
Carry Cash With You
You’ll be always exposed to facing potentially uncertain situations at times when it comes to using your credit card at a restaurant that takes your credit card in the back or a fuel pump that looks suspicious. Thus, keep a little cash with you so can use it to pay whenever using your credit card looks unsafe.