How to Protect Yourself From Debit Card Skimmers

Recommended precautions...

If debit card security worries you, maybe

a credit card would be better.

Stealing debit card information using "skimmers" at gas pumps and ATMs is an old problem, Anthony Giorgianni reports on consumerreports.org.

But thieves are becoming more sophisticated at hiding the devices and getting around some of the fixes merchants have put in their way, Giorgianni wrote.

A new study from FICO Card Alert Services shows just how big a problem this sort of theft has become.  FICO reported a 70 percent increase in the number of debit cards that were compromised in 2016 at ATMs and at card readers used by merchants.  It also reported that the number of card readers at ATMs and merchant devices that were hacked rose 30 percent.

For some precaution to protect your use of debit and ATM cards:  https://www.consumerreports.org/money/watch-out-for-skimmers-at-atm/

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report: 

How Your Brain Tricks You Into Believing Fake News.