4 Risky Places To Swipe Your Debit Card

I LOVE Target.  I used to live across the street from one and shop there at least twice a week, but I gotta admit their recent security breach has made me a bit wigged out about where I swipe my debit card.  I only have one two credit cards and they're really for emergencies only.  I use my debit card for everything else and I'd just about die if a thief got into my checking account.  According to ABC News these are the 4 riskiest places to use your debit card. [SOURCE]

Outdoor ATMs

Seems crazy right?  Even the US Bank I use on Park Center has an outdoor ATM, but these machines have pretty low surveillance outside the camera built in to them.  They present the perfect opportunity for thieves to skim you debit card.  That means they capture your card's info by running it through a machine that reads its magnetic strip.  They're often placed over the real card slots so you don't know the difference.  You're btter off using one inside a retail outlet, branch or high trafficked, well-lit place.  Sometimes you can spot the skimmers if the machine looks beaten up.

Gas Stations

Likewise, gas station pay slots can be set up for skimming.  Even scarier, if the thief has a laptop and wireless connection they could be sitting across the street picking up all the info and stealing money from your account before you get back to your garage.  Some thieves use small cameras to capture footage of you putting in your PIN number so they can have free access to their money.  Even if they don't get that PIN from you, they may still be able to duplicate your magnetic strip and use it for a "sign and swipe" transaction allowed by Visa and MasterCard debit cards.  Next time you fill up you may consider paying the clerk inside before you pump or using cash.

Online

Duh.  Your personal info is totally at risk on-line, even if you think you're making a secure purchase.  You know that little thing called malware?  It could be hiding on your computer and be at the endpoint of your transaction to steal your info.  There could be someone eavesdropping on your communication via a public wireless network.  Or maybe it's like Target, where your info enters into a database that gets hacked.  These are all things to consider because unlike a credit card...you're giving these theieves a direct line into your checking account.

Restaurants

You'd like to think your server is an upstanding citizen just trying to put themselves through college or providing for their fam but if they take your card away from you to run it behind closed doors, that gives them the privacy and time to copy your card information.  And if you're like me you might think ordering a pizza or take-out is great on the go because the restaurant has your information in the database and all you have to do is give them that easy to remember security number.   Think again...that database can be stolen or hacked.  Just exercise caution or use cash upon delivery.

 Tips To Protect Yourself

These come from out friend Angie, who's a banker:

1. ALWAYS sign the signature strip on the back of your card. Leaving it blank or Just writing "see photo id" or similar is not enough. Visa/MC, etc REQUIRE it be signed-if not, your fraud claim or dispute will be rejected.

2. Run your debit purchases as "credit"-this reduces liability to YOU as cardholder. Added bonus: if you are a credit union member, or just love where you bank, running your card as credit versus debit earns revenue for your financial institution. Debit interchange fees are high for institutions but low for merchants, and vice versa.