there is an App that you can install on your phone that will detect Scanners. It is called Card Scanner (iPhone App Store)

When we first visited the USA, most gas pumps would not accept my UK credit card, so I got used to giving cash to cashier prior to filling car.
Stuck with cash for gas ever since, and same at restaurants.
They seem to be the two most vulnerable card locations.

We still pay after filling up in UK.
We are so honest! :angel::pray:

Zero liability? I'm skeptical. Suppose you are careless and negligent with your card and lose thousands of dollars? I doubt that the bank will honor that promise.

Did you mean "Card Skimmer", rather than "Card Scanner"?

We had a replacement card used before it ever reach our home!!

And yet, it's becoming impossible to use cash.

Just this weekend, I checked my credit card online and discovered that my new dentist (Smile Design in Mulberry) had hit my card for $25 twice on the same day, AFTER I'd already paid the agreed $55 at the desk on the day of service. They just used the number and helped themselves. This was after last week, when they sent a bill demanding payment for the insured amounts (about $300). When I called to ask what the deal was, they told me to ignore the bill (that said they'd charge a late fee if I didn't pay it), and wait 3 weeks to verify that insurance paid it. But they refused to send a corrected bill (I guess, so they can help themselves to a "late" fee using my unauthorized credit card number again).

Everyone you deal with these days is a crook. Just look at your next insurance statement if you need proof. The cops refuse to investigate crime unless it's to shake down normal folks for breaking an absurd speed limit. And, as I mentioned earlier, I've already discovered that even ID protection insurance is just another scam.

This country has become so corrupt that we make Mexico look like a bastion of virtue. At least in Mexico, you can bribe a cop to do his damned job!

I wish I could say that I totally disagree with your pessimism, BUT :shrug:

Fred

Keep a copy of your medical records, they are always trying to double bill, or bill for services that you didn't have.

Thanks for the heads up; seems Florida is a prime target for criminals who attach those to pumps, and a lot of the articles in the news mention Circle K stations. Don't know if they check for "skimmers" less often that others or why this could be so ? B.J.'s pumps also seem to be connected to a lot of this type of thing...and they always have attendants out and covering the area. As you commented, the more technology advances, the more criminals refine their "skills" ! Thankfully, most credit cards do have safeguards for the card holders.... that's US....LOL !

I've always been a "glass half full" type personality. No longer, and I don't blame "age" for this change, perhaps in a way, as experience does depend on age, but the "FACT" that "nobody cares" (maybe better said, "few care", there are a "few") has spread to every aspect of our society. When people go to vote, nobody really cares about the important offices like JUDGES, nobody really has an inclination to do all the hours of research needed to find out the philosophy and past judgments of those up for election/to retain, definitions of accepted concepts and individual words change monthly now (Orwell's "newspeak"), people have actually been dismissed from the jobs, or their classrooms because they "mis-pronoun" another individual. Great example, "mis-pronoun" is a word most adults in their 30's were never taught, so we/they are bound to make mistakes ! Very low tolerance for mistakes, people are quick to assume the WORST of others. The whole virus scenario seems to have just given impetus to the trend toward "nobody cares" ?
Serious thought here, has there been a major, and permanent, shift it the collective American psyche ? Interesting to ponder !

This thread will will serve to bring the extent of this to people's minds, but what needs to be posted is: THE SOLUTION. What is the solution ? Pay attention is not the answer to this, but is a "skimmer proof" credit card possible with today's technology ? What about all the online forms that "store" your C.C. numbers (many even when you check the "do not save" box !) It's a major problem that does not seem to be decreasing !

Why ? Just asking, not challenging ! Have read so many articles on this is various papers; Tampa, Gainesville, Orlando, about the state's actions in trying to check pumps for "skimmers", Circle K (for some reason ?) seems to be a prime target for these criminals ! Articles frequently name Circle K as a victim of this. Again, NOT challenging your comment, just wondering why that would not be a prime suspect since it is well know this chain is a frequent target ... could it be they have more locations than Freedom, Shell, etc. etc. , so it would follow they would be victimized more often ? WHY are gas stations more susceptible than other businesses (yes, restaurant employees have been found to steal CC numbers too), is it because it's easier to place skimmers than to accomplish "inside jobs" ?

Just call your bank — the number on the card. They’ll cancel your card and send you a new one, probably overnight.

Don’t keep.using the old one. Your number has been stolen and is “out there”. Call your bank and get new card.

Unfortunately there are still way too many places that don't accept the "tap" method. Nor do they accept Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, etc. It's amazing how many times I hear "Oh, we don't do that here". I routinely use Samsung Pay everywhere I can. But believe it or not, WalMart doesn't accept any thing unless it's their own WalMart Pay. At least that's what they told me when mine didn't work.

I wish our illustrious credit card companies (or govt) would require that restaurants must bring a handheld to the table when you wish to use a CC, like they do in Europe. If they can't bring one, you must go to the register to pay. Your card never leaves your hands. There are some with the table check-out but it is not even chain wide much less system wide. I know of one chain where you can actually pay through your phone. That is nice.

Unfortunately my hubby isn't techy to the point that he can use the phone pay, and he often has trouble with the touch so it just frustrates him and he uses the chip slot.

I read the same article. Not trying to be contrary, this discussion is an important one, but why would we trust this French company (Thalesgroup) for the definite answer to our questions about the safety of our credit cards, or any cards ? One company with a LOT at stake in convincing the "public" of the safety of the developing the card technology. Nope, call me a skeptic, but while seek to read all available "perspectives" on any topic, this posted one from Thalesgroup, is just another perspective from a company that has a LOT to gain from taking this stand on "safety"...LOL !

Agree, but in reality.... it's difficult to do of course. You can not make a flight or hotel reservation without one. My mother was one of THE very last holdouts concerning credit cards. She refused the entire concept for years, what took her over the cliff was the day she tried to book a flight to Texas and was unable to do so. She called me to make the reservation, then finally relented and was "forced" by the times to get one credit card ! I know growing up my parents we EXTREMELY "old fashioned" people. They paid cash for everything, EVERYTHING. Nothing was purchased if there was not enough to pay for it ! That included automobiles if you can believe that ! For an automobile they paid by check, not cash, but never until the total price had been "saved up". It's amazing how they lived, tried to explain to the grands. One grandson could not understand HOW they could get FOOD without a credit card ! It was like trying to explain a corded phone and what a "typewriter" was.....lol !

Question: Isn't that just routine ? Do you actually have to ASK that you be issued a different number ? Ridiculous... defeats the whole purpose of letting them know you lost your card. Are you sure you have to request that ?

Everything has risks, even carrying cash.



Credit Card Safety - Keep Your Accounts Safe

I realize your last sentence was just an "extra" sarcastic jab, but I do totally agree that we "foolish ones" (as my brother in law called us when he got his "FREE new roof" and predicted we would be the ones to ultimately pay for "his" new roof, no he's not evil, he's a great guy, but he tried to tell us we'd be "sorry" we didn't agree to a false claim), are the last ones in the Ponzi scheme. I often wonder why, when we lived in other Florida towns, our neighborhood was not obsessed with new roofs, and never had "door knockers" offering free ones ? Surely this happens in Ocala, in Gainesville, in Vero Beach .... right ? ?

But, do you realize just how difficult this can be ? I know, I know, people used to do it and somehow managed, but now we are all so conditioned that the thought of leaving your dog in the care for only a minute to "run in", or the thought of taking your baby out of the car seat to "run in" to pay for gasoline in a driving rain storm, people really are too conditioned to go back to a cash, in my personal opinion many would not even know HOW to do that, logistics wise, LOL !

Credit card stolen
 

my cc # was misused by a villager !! I handed her my cc to pay dues & she re-used it !! so had to close account and get a new one.

If misery loves company, I will tell you we have experience the very same type of "don't worry about the words to the effect that you'll be charged a late fee if your insurance company does not get the payment here on time", yet in the same breath refusing to send a written statement to back up what they responded to orally. It's a mine field at every turn. Ordered a Christmas present ($190 coffee maker and a burr grinder, from Gevi company. A Chinese "front" in Calif. that pretends to be an "Italian" company (because Gevi was a legitimate company at one time). Only received ONE of the items, and that was used (obviously, grounds still left in it), NOT the model I ordered, and NOT even the color I ordered. Call immediately, one hour and 10 minutes of just laying the phone on the table...waiting. Finally got a person with very limited English, only words were "sorry, sorry, so sorry". When I asked for details, WHEN what I paid for will all arrive (cc had cleared of course), WHAT should I do with the incorrect item I did received, she has so little command of English all she could manage was "send back, back, we will reimburse after receive". NOTHING about HOW do I get what I did order, WHEN would it arrive, nothing...just repeated "so sorry, sorry" ! Informed CC company, sent REAMS of supporting docs at my expense; original order clearly showing what I ordered, pictures of the ONE item I did receive showing it was definitely used and never cleaned, and so on. CC company reversed the charge. Later received a letter that they had done significant "research" (they asked Gevi if they HAD sent my correct order, and they replied "yes"... LOL !) Amex put the charge BACK on my bill, I sent reams of additional attempts to get what I ordered, copies of 15 emails since they seldom answer the phone and have no English speaking employees, and copies of the many personal reviews from people who had received dirty, used, equipment from them and then not been able to communicate in English for instructions on how to proceed. Another $11.80 postage to send hard copies of all this additional supporting information to CC, and once more they DID reverse the charges AND they (not GEVI ?) sent me a postage paid label to send the one used model I received back to Gevi in California. I have a receipt for that. Now, once again, CC has informed me the company DID send my order. I asked my credit card company to please obtain from Gevi a delivery conformation for the item I did NOT receive, they have not been able to obtain one. Gevi has once again told CC they sent the order and should have their money, and it was again put BACK on my statement. Now I have sent them a copy of an email from Gevi to me, in answer to my complaint that I was sent a different model and completely different COLOR than I ordered. The email, also in broken English, stated: "so sorry, order you received is the SAME as you ordered only Black color ! LOL ! It was a totally different MODEL, had very different controls, and was black, NOT the color "beige" I ordered...yet to them (???) black, beige, all the same ! Eight function espresso machine, same as 2 function ? Yes, it's a mine field. I think the $190 is gone for good, but how will I completely avoid ever ordering on line again...especially from an OLD, established, company like Gevi, a company most would "trust" ?

The solution? The solution would be for the cops to do their damned jobs -- investigate and arrest criminals who steal credit cards (or in my case, criminals who use their job at a bank to create their own fake debit card number that I never even knew about).

But cops have the same problem as everyone else in this country -- THEY'RE LAZY. Marion Country couldn't even be bothered to call Amazon and demand the name of the crook on 131 Amazon order numbers. Literally dialing a phone was too much to ask of them.

I don't know how to fix that problem. But, since our military seems to suffer the same problem, I suspect that we will soon discover that China has a solution. We won't like it.

I don't think the cops are to blame. The banks are. They should increase the security of the credit cards. Why don't they require a photo on the credit card? If tapping is more secure than swiping, why don't they eliminate swiping and require tapping? Why do they allow restaurants to take a credit card into the back room where the card can be photographed, instead of requiring the transaction to be completed in the presence of the customer? Why is there a signature line on the back of the card that is never used for anything? Why don't they use biometrics? These are some simple, common sense measures that the banks could implement to greatly reduce fraudulent transactions. The cops can only get involved after it is too late to prevent fraud.

Yeah, and you can't expect the cops to arrest a rapist when the victim was wearing a halter top, right? To late to prevent it by then, so why arrest anybody? Blame the victim!

And all those folks getting carjacked in D.C. and Philly -- Ford oughta add armor plating and bullet-proof glass! No point in arresting those poor carjackers, when filthy-rich Ford should be selling us tanks on their own dime, right? It's Ford's fault!

You know what I think started all this nonsense? That idiotic 55 mph speed limit. They literally taught a generation of Americans to ignore the law, and now the law has become so meaningless that it can occur to an otherwise sane individual to blame rampant credit card fraud on the banks, instead of the crooks or the cops who refuse to arrest the crooks. No wonder otherwise honest old folks in a retirement community in Florida think nothing of scamming their insurance company out of a roof.

We have become a nation of crooks, and the only time anyone cares is when it's their turn to be the victim

I don't disagree with you, but in most cases of credit card fraud, the local police don't have the jurisdiction to arrest the people who commit the fraud. They can be thousands of miles away. But, the banks can structure the payment process to prevent the fraud before it happens.

I slide my card & it's happened to me before at the gas pump big time! When I was in Ohio, a semi truck charged several fill ups before I found out & it was a total of $6,000. I always press cancel several times when I finish my transaction now & have never had a problem since.