Card skimming.

In plain English

Card skimming is a theft method where a small illegal device is placed over or inside a card reader, gas pump, or ATM to capture your card details as you pay. Skimmers usually read the magnetic stripe, and a hidden camera or fake keypad may grab your PIN. The thieves then use the copied data to make a fake card or buy things online. Chip and tap payments are much harder to skim because they do not hand over a reusable number.

01Why it matters

A skimmed card can drain your account before you notice, and untangling the fraudulent charges takes time even when you get the money back. Knowing the signs lets you avoid the reader before it gets you.

02The math, step by step

At a gas pump, you notice the card slot wiggles and sticks out farther than the others. That can be a skimmer placed over the real reader. Instead of swiping, you tap your card or pay inside, and you report the suspicious pump to the station. If a card is ever skimmed, your first step is to contact your bank right away to dispute the charges and freeze the card. Under the Reg E error-resolution rules, you are protected from unauthorized electronic charges if you report them promptly.

03What this is NOT

04Receipts

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