From what I think understand. The chip does not use the number on the card. It's a.....umm...random number. Once the number is used, the number is no longer good. Should be some protection. I would like to understand more about the "tap and pay". But it looks like I have to use Google for this. I REALLY don't want Google to have may card numbers. Bad enough that Pay Pal has my numbers, though very convenient when using their service.

I don't have a "card wallet", but I do use the card sleeves. So far so good, but once removed from the sleeve, I would guess the card can be remotely scanned??

FWIW: My ATM/debit card used as a credit card card was hit 3 times at "a" convenience store over a few months. First time, stuff happens. 2nd time, made me wonder. 3rd time. It made me think that either there is a crook with a pocket size scanner standing next to me, or the management/clerks of the store was grabbing my card number. Never happened anywhere else, just that store. Brought this up to my bank, their attitude seemed to be oh well we'll fix your account, rather than them working with the cops to go after the store or a thief hanging out in the store. Sorry, I do not remember if it was swipe or chip, think it was swipe, but this was about 8 years ago.

EDIT: I wanted to add. I used my card at the store many times before and during the months between the issues, Never a problem. But when it hit the 3rd time "at this store", I knew it was an issue with "this store". Stopped sing my card there, no issues.

Tom

 

Tom H, there's a third option. If you have an Android, Samsung wallet is available. If you have an iPhone, try Apple pay. I've used Samsung wallet ever since 2016 when they arrived on the scene. It works MOST places. There are always someplace where I just can't seem to make the NFC connection. I use it extensively in a small central American country and have not had any issues. Used to be Samsung pay but recently changed the name since it stores other types of payment/ID cards etc. I have Sam's Club, BJ's and others. Try it.



Samsung wallet

 

Un attended gas stations??

 

Maybe I will try the Samsung wallet, I do have their brand phone.

Tom

 

you do not have to use google for this. if your card is a 'tap' card. you don't need to go through anyone at all, just tap your card on the tap symbol on the pump and it'll read it. if your bank doesn't use that type of card, then yeah, samsung wallet, apple wallet, etc. is the next route.

 

Cash...

 

Stay out of the hood…

 

I try and avoid pumps they face outward toward the street , I feel those are the most vulnerable.

you can use a gas station specific card also , they can’t use that anywhere else .

 

I’ve always followed the “no debit card” at the pump rule. Only my CC. And when “tapping” is available (and it usually is) I use that as well.
A friend of mine ONLY has a debit card, and has had to replace it due to scams 3 times in the last year and a half.
Those scammy bastards are out there, and they thoroughly suck!

 

Credit card only. I try use tap whenever I can. but not all places support it.

I get an alert from my banking app every time I make a credit card purchase. The amount spent and where it was spent pops up on my phone, and on my Apple watch within a minute of the purchase. (I never miss the watch alert because the watch's haptic function buzzes my wrist).

I can block my credit card using the bank app. (There's a button there for it). If I should see a bogus purchase pop up, I can suspend the card in under a minute, then contact the CC company at my leisure to alert them.