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Risky locations to make debit card purchases
Today, the vast majority of consumers use debit cards rather than credit cards for day-to-day purchases. While all payment forms had inherent risks, there are several locations that have proven to be more unsafe than others when it comes to debit card transactions. Consumers should be careful when using their card at these locations and be sure to leverage security best practices to avoid theft of personal information.
Outdoor ATMs
According to Bankrate contributor Claes Bell, outdoor ATMs can be more dangerous that their indoor counterparts, as they "present a perfect opportunity for thieves to skim users' debit cards." Security consultant Chris McGoey told Bell that cybercriminals have been known to install a small machine inside an ATM card slot to read magnetic strips and capture the personal information stored there.
"Any transaction you do outdoors at an open ATM is going to higher risk exposure," McGoey said. "If the public has access to it, then someone has the ability to add skimming devices to it, position cameras on it and position themselves in a way where they could surveil it."
To prevent falling victim to this scam, users should instead utilize ATMs inside retail stores or other places with high foot traffic. Busy locations like this are less attractive to hackers leveraging this theft strategy.
Gas stations
Bell noted that similar tactics are also utilized to steal customer information at gas stations. However, some attacks have upped the ante by installing cameras to snoop travelers' PIN numbers. Consumers should use other forms of payment at gas stations, such as cash or a credit card not requiring a PIN, for safer gas station transactions.
Online purchases
Online shopping can also be a risky environment for debit card purchases. Here, attackers typically exploit weak security measures on the payment page to steal consumers' card numbers and other personal data needed for shipping. CreditCards contributors Ben Woosley and Matt Schulz suggested not using payment cards on unsecured websites. Before making a purchase, consumers should look for signs that the site uses an SSL certificate and other security to protect sensitive information. Individuals can look for SSL seals on the shopping cart page, or a small lock symbol or green text in the address bar. These signal the presence of encryption that scrambles certain data to prevent unauthorized users from deciphering protected content.
Restaurants
Bell also stated that certain restaurants could be dangerous places for debit cards, as some locations keep customer information, including payment data, on file. This practice is especially common for delivery purposes, as vendors think it increases convenience for future orders. However, any organization that keeps this data on file poses a risk to debit card security.
Additionally, card users should also be wary at sit-down establishments where servers or other staff members take a payment card out of view. This can boost the chances of falling victim to fraud, McGoey told the source.
"The guy comes to your table, takes your card and disappears for a while, so he or she has privacy," McGoey said.
During this time period, the individual could easily write down or duplicate the card information for later fraudulent use.
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