The reason I ask is because the latest identity theft scam is to install a "reader" where you put the debit card, and then when the gas station is closed, the pin data is retrieved from the "reader."

Several years ago, this happened to my mom in Southern California. She had charges on her card that weren't hers. Then it happened again, and she figured her info was getting lifted/compromised at the gas station. She's used cash ever since.

Now, in this morning's San Francisco Chronicle they have a story about arresting two guys who were doing that here in Northern California. Luckily, an employee noticed the reader, contacted authorities and they put a decoy in and waited.

Two men came by just after Midnight to retrieve the latest names and pins, but got arrested instead.

The gas station is two blocks from my house!! The article said the same guys had set up "readers" in Sacramento, San Jose, and several other Northern California gas stations. So be careful, or just use cash.

A few weeks ago my bank froze my debit card because I had inserted the card one-too-many times into a gas pump (I couldn't read the screen because of glare from the sun the first time I put the card in the reader, so I pulled it out and tried it a couple more times.) I got my gas, but a short while later Target wouldn't accept my card!

When I got home I saw that the bank had called my home within the hour and left messages for me to call them back - to follow up on the incident and to determine whether it was fraud or not. They lifted the freeze at that time.

I was very grateful that the bank (Wells Fargo) was so on top of things. I would hope all banks would have that kind of check in place, but people are always finding ways to commit identity theft. So yes, always be on the alert, and carry cash like people did in the old days, I guess.

SK8888 I saw that on the news.
That happened to someone I know in a grocery store in Los Gatos awhile ago..
I hate those scanner...but I learned from Michael Finney (sp) to use your credit card cause you can only lose $50 a debit card does not have the same consumer protection..

I have been told to always use your debit card as "credit".
People also have been known to watch you from afar in stores and get your pin when using it as a debit.

Unrelated to the debit, but I had a hold put on my credit card last week. Called Visa and they told me that several tiny charges($1 to $5) from all over were being tried. The credit card co said that thiefs were picking "random" #'s and trying to charge small amounts in an attempt to get the correct expiration date. Luckly, the people at Visa noticed this and put the hold on my card. We had to cancel that card and I have been sent a new one.

Boy...........it's a scary, devious world out there!!

I'm glad the banks/credit card companies are so on top of this stuff. Although it's very inconvinent(sp?) to have your card shut off while you wait for a new one.