Stay Secure: Smart Debit Card Safety Tips
Your debit card is a convenient way to pay, but it's important to keep it safe. Learn simple habits to protect your card and account information.
Debit Card Safety Tips:
- Be mindful of your surroundings when using an ATM
- When using a walk-up ATM, try to park as close as possible to the machine
- Never write your PIN on your card or keep it in the same spot as your card
- Do not use a PIN that is easy to guess such as your birthday or last four of your social
- Use different PIN numbers for different cards
- Look out for skimmers and shimmers (more information below)
- Check the terminal by pulling to see if the card reader or keypad seem loose or out of place
- Check for any resistance when swiping or inserting your card as these can be signs that the terminal has been tampered with
- Use tap-to-pay where available for additional protection
- Consider restricting your card through your online banking app when not in use
- If you notice any charges, you did not authorize, contact your bank to dispute them immediately
Skimming Devices:
Skimming devices are installed over the card reader slot for an ATM or POS terminal and involve installing a false keypad device over the actual keypad or a hidden camera to record what PIN is being entered. Once a card is inserted into a skimmer, the data is pulled off of the magnetic strip and stored electronically for the fraudsters to use later.
Shimming Devices:
Shimmers are a harder to detect device than skimmers. A shim is inserted into the actual slot where your chip is inserted and contains a microchip and flash storage to save card data. It can copy your card number and PIN.
What to do?
If you believe you have used a terminal with one of these devices attached, contact your bank immediately and notify the merchant/ATM owner as well. If it is after hours, don not forget that you can restrict your own card through your online banking app.