Skimming credit card data is big business for thieves; it’s a $16 billion dollar problem in the US alone. And with increasingly easy and cheap ways for thieves to camouflage skimmers and steal your data, it’s hard to know what to do to protect your credit card data.
As you will hear in the news report below, ATMs and gas stations are not the only skimming targets. Drive-thrus, corner stores and any outlet with a card-swiping device can become a skimming hot spot. And if you think chip credit cards will protect you, think again.
With so many different ways for thieves to steal your credit card data, the one thing you can do is be vigilant and check over your credit card statement every month. Experts say it’s the number one thing you can do to protect yourself, but funnily enough 9 out of 10 people do not regularly check their statement.
The other key way to thwart the theft of your information is to protect your PIN by covering the pad with your free hand to guard it being recorded by any hidden cameras or devices. Getting RFID blocking sleeves to block your PIN chip from being read by a hacking device will also help keep your data safe. Even wrapping your cards in aluminum foil will do the trick.
You can never be too careful. Do you have tips for protecting your information? Share this warning with your friends.
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