The Riskiest Places To Swipe Your Credit Card
The Riskiest Places To Swipe Your Credit Card
Scott M. Brodie Mon, April 18, 2022, 1:00 PM
Credit card fraud has become a constant and pervasive threat, and debit cards aren't immune to being stolen either. The Federal Trade Commission reported 66,090 instances of credit card fraud in 2020. This is why it's so important to know where the risks are, so you can better protect yourself from those looking to steal your information.
ATM Machines
Thieves have been skimming debit (and credit) card information from ATM machines for years, and the innovation of chip cards was partly developed to address this risk. As the credit card industry advances, though, thieves adapt -- and Consumer Reports notes they now have "shimmers" that can read chip-based cards.
Gas Stations
Gas stations are a haven for credit card thieves, as the pumps see a lot of customers and often receive minimal supervision. As a result, thieves have ample opportunity to install skimmers and sometimes tiny cameras that capture PIN numbers. The problem is so bad, the Secret Service has gotten involved. The agency found almost 200 skimmers at 400 gas stations during a crackdown in 2018.
Mobile Vendors
While there are many trustworthy mobile vendors who are trying to earn an honest living, there also can be thieves who pose as such vendors. At festivals, fairs, concerts and other events, attendees sometimes don't know whether a vendor is legit or uses a card skimmer. This can leave your card susceptible.
Dining Establishments
While some restaurants now swipe your card in a visible location, many still run cards in the back of the house where you can't see it. Should an establishment or individual server be unscrupulous, they could swipe your card through a skimmer and charge more than just your meal.
Chain Retailers
Large chain retail stores might seem like safer places to use a credit card because they have more resources to invest in security. The number of people who swipe cards at retailers makes them especially promising targets for thieves, though, and some have managed to get through the security measures in place. Target, TJX -- which operates T.J. Maxx and Marshall's -- and others have had data breaches involving cards.
Online Retailers
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https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/riskiest-places-swipe-credit-card-170001180.html