Have you been Victimized by credit or debit card skimming? How to prevent it?
May 12, 2016, 7:38 am
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
Exactly. The richest countries offer the richest pickings. I have used cards all over the world and only ever had a problem in the western world.
May 12, 2016, 10:02 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: source of weird and eccentric ideas
Posts: 38,689
They can install skimmers when they "service" the ATMs and this will become a bigger and bigger problem.
Don't know how I could have prevented the last one. And I try to use the Apple Watch but most vendors don't accept it.
Even the chip terminals here in the US don't usually work and you need to swipe.
The gas stations ask for zip code which is how Amex discovered my card had been skimmed. Good thing.
May 12, 2016, 2:27 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SNA
Posts: 410
Theoretically, at least, ApplePay should be significantly more secure than a traditional transaction. It generates a unique card number for every transaction, so even if someone intercepts those details, they won't be able to re-use them.
As to the larger question, my primary strategy is to never EVER use an ATM or debit card unless it's my only option. I try to use the ATM card to get cash at a machine inside a bank branch if I need it. Everything else goes on a credit card. If someone compromises my card, I don't want to give them access to pull money directly out of my bank account. Even if I'm made whole at the end of the day, I'm out that money while the dispute is processed. With a credit card, there's more buffer.
As to the larger question, my primary strategy is to never EVER use an ATM or debit card unless it's my only option. I try to use the ATM card to get cash at a machine inside a bank branch if I need it. Everything else goes on a credit card. If someone compromises my card, I don't want to give them access to pull money directly out of my bank account. Even if I'm made whole at the end of the day, I'm out that money while the dispute is processed. With a credit card, there's more buffer.