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When I'm at the grocery store, I hate getting stuck behind a slow-poke check writer. My preferred method of payment is a simple swipe of my debit card. In a few seconds my goodies are paid for and I am out the door.
There's a downside to electronic money, though: the financial vulnerability. Electronic scammers love debit-card swipers like me, and I've learned the hard way not to break out the plastic just anywhere. I've only been hit once, but I've done my research and am committed not to get caught again! There are five places now where I never use debit cards.
I never swipe at outside gas pumps.
This is where my information was compromised. While I swiped and pumped, a nearby scammer with a laptop and router picked up my information, complete with pin number. The next day, I got a call from my bank asking me about some unusual charges. According the scammer's expenses, I filled up my tank, twice, and went on an online shopping spree. Luckily, the charges were reversed and a new card was issued. Still, it was a frightening experience!
I avoid using outdoor ATMs.
That goes for ones at the bank too. Did you know scammers sometimes attach their equipment to a real ATM's card slide? Since this doesn't happen too often with indoor machines because of the lack of privacy for the rip-off artist, I always go indoors to withdraw cash. Even then, I double check the slide area. If it looks weird or overly large, I don't use that ATM.
Never swipe for a caramel macchiato, no matter what size you order.
I am a coffee shop lover too but it is not smart to swipe your card around a shop full of laptops. Laptop scammers with the right software can extract private, financial information from your data transfer -- like your card number! I always use cash at the coffee shop.
Unsecured websites invite scammers.
I never use my debit card at unsecured websites. Some financial gurus say that you shouldn't shop online, period, but I find that hard to do. I do, however, look for security tags on the sites where I shop and I click on them to verify that they are live links, not bogus ones. Scammers are very sophisticated and have nothing to do with their time except rip me off. I don't shop at sites that don't offer protection or insure my safety.
I never give restaurant servers my debit card.
I go cash or I don't go! Handing your debit card to a restaurant server is the dumbest thing ever. Once the card is out of your sight, you don't know what's going on. They could be jotting down your card number, making a photocopy of it or hopping online with their iPhone to place a quick order for jewelry and new clothes. It really happens, but it has never happened to me!
Fear doesn't keep me from doing the things I love, I just do them smarter.
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