Luckily, there are ways to minimize your chances of having your credit card information stolen. Many retailers, at the advice of law enforcement, have made changes to their payment machines. Use this advice to make sure every swipe of your credit card is done in the safest way possible. Everytime you go to buy food at the grocery store or fill the gas tank of your car, you shouldn't have to worry about your information being stolen!

Crooks can steal your credit or debit card numbers at:

• Gas pumps. This is the most common location for skimming, because people are often in a hurry to fill the tank.
• Skimmers have been found on regular and self-service checkout lines at several supermarkets, including Safeway.
• Train stations.

How To Spot A Skimmer

• Grab the card reader, pull it hard and jiggle it around. If it is loose, it might be a skimmer, the Northport, Ala., Police Department said. Always tug on readers at gas pumps and ticket machines.
• Look for hidden cameras and cover the hand that is entering data. Thieves sometimes place cameras in discrete locations to steal PIN numbers. Any pinhole or clear area near the PIN reader might contain one.
• Look for signs of damage to the machine. This might include a recently drilled hole or spray paint.
• If you have a chip card, use the chip reader when available. It is more secure.
• Check your account balance regularly, online. Report any suspicious activity immediately.
• Call the police if you think you have found a skimmer.
• Use other methods of payment, such as cash or phone payment apps like Apple Pay and Walmart Pay. Payment apps can be more secure than cards.

Have you had an experience with a credit card skimmer? What other tips do you have for spotting them?

Article Source: Off The Grid News