How to protect your credit card from 'skimming'

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We'll hang on to your credit cards because credit -- fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in America.

-- stealing billions of your dollars.

From unsuspecting consumers -- one big part of this is something that is now called skimming.

You can easily become the next victim we're gonna tell you where.

Joining me now Roberts is -- on -- identity theft at expert and it's great to have you here Robert thank you.

Thank you -- save us please from this skimming this caught my died this week because skimming is going on a place you wouldn't expect.

Gas pumps.

Sometimes there -- tampered with and they actually swipe your card and sent a lot of information off that magnetic strip.

First of all what's on that -- other than a credit card number.

So that strip basically is these sixteen -- -- credit card number along with potentially get your debit card numbers while depending on.

What -- you use which generally is enough to turn -- data into cash.

When the bad guy takes that information -- clones that card basically just copies everything on the magnetic strip onto another card.

And goes ahead and -- unauthorized purchases or withdrawals so I go to put gas in my vehicle.

And I look at the pump were put the -- and can I tell anything about it to tell if it's been tampered with.

Often -- the consumer will not be able to know that the -- itself has banned compromised.

Generally the bad guys have master keys to the pumps themselves.

And are able to actually put a device inside the pump -- you might not ever see the actual skimming device itself because it's it's.

Internal.

And once -- our information is damned if they just go ahead and again -- that card.

So just should generally for consumers when it comes to gas -- You really -- -- pay very close attention your statements because if there are any authorized unauthorized charges you wanna know about that as quickly as possible -- refute those charges.

Can you still do that whereas even if your card is lost or -- you're limited liability is like fifty dollars a used to be the law.

So it's still -- the -- is basically that you are limited to fifty dollars as long adds.

You respond to be issuing -- the credit card company with in a sixty day period of time.

It's that 68 grace period that you have -- to consume -- to refute those charges after that you'll be responsible for those charges however.

The most banks the most -- -- companies have instituted a zero liability policy so when there is some kind of fraud they will basically reset the clock.

Well you have to be on top of the you have to -- you have to pay attention -- statements.

I've got to pay attention goes David -- again you're gonna pay for the betterment identity thief.

Here are internationally sometimes it's amazing how far those numbers can go or be sold.

Where else can you be -- other event at the gas pump which is the one that car I restaurants I imagine our problem to right and stores.

Yet restaurants.

Certainly.

ATMs themselves.

An ATM machine is known to have -- at this point.

Bad guys and all the world of flying into the US and they're attaching devices to the face the ATM we'd put the card basically the card slide.

Nice compromise with that with an external device called an ATM scam are.

And that device records the information off the back of the magnetic strip there's another device on the ATM I smoked -- wireless camera -- -- -- as a punching your proud.

So so always cover up the keypad with the other hand as a punching it in and they can't get your pin code they can't make -- -- -- live your account.

Now that's a great one look other than cash.

Is there any -- way Robert that we could be paying for things and avoiding all of this so we just really have to be alerts.

So I use my credit cards for everything I don't really worry about credit card fraud and I tell consumers the same thing was -- use your credit cards.

Just pay close attention to your statements and as long as you're looking at your statements and I do it weekly online a look at my receipts whether they're purchased in person or the Internet.

And I compare them to the charges on my card on the statement online and as long as everything matches up you find.

If it doesn't match up you refute those charges and they may change your credit or debit card number at that time but I don't worry about it because it is pay attention to my statements.

The chances of that happening -- we always slam but there's a chance -- do wanna pay close attention to the statement I can't stress that enough.

For you and you haven't I really appreciate Roberts is silly on -- great to see you.

And thank you have this take charge segment with your help folks not get scammed all right for more.

On take charge -- number of consumer issues that we've picked to help you take care of yourself and -- family go to foxnews.com.

And click on the bottom of the page America's news HQ that's our show.

The only place that you'll see take charge consumer protection segments.

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How to protect your credit card from 'skimming'

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