Card Fraud: How to Protect Yourself (and What to Do if Something Looks Wrong)

Card fraud is constantly evolving, but protecting yourself doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Most fraud issues are caught early when people do two simple things:

• Keep an eye on their transactions
• Act quickly when something seems off

Common Types of Card Fraud

• Skimming (ATMs, gas pumps, checkout terminals)
  • A hidden device captures your card information, and sometimes your PIN.
• Account takeover
  • Someone gains access to your card account or online banking and attempts to change information, add a digital wallet, or make unauthorized transactions.
• Card-not-present fraud
  • Your physical card is never used. Instead, someone uses your card number for online purchases or subscriptions.
• Online shopping scams
  • Fake websites and scam social media ads can look legitimate but are designed to steal payment information or take your money without ever sending a product.

Simple Ways to Protect Yourself

1. Pay attention at ATMs and gas pumps: Before using a machine, take a quick look at the card reader and keypad. If something looks loose, damaged, or unusual, trust your gut and use a different terminal. Try to use machines in well-lit, busy areas whenever possible, and cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
2. Be careful when shopping online: Especially when buying through social media ads, stick with retailers you know and trust when possible. Avoid clicking payment links from texts or emails. Instead, type the website directly into your browser. While “https” and padlock icons can help, scammers can fake those too, so always double-check the actual web address. For many purchases, credit cards may also offer stronger fraud protections than debit cards.
3. Watch out for “free trial” traps: A lot of free trials automatically turn into paid subscriptions if you don’t cancel in time. Those charges can catch people off guard later, so it’s worth slowing down and reading the terms before entering your card information.
4. Make transaction monitoring a habit:
   • Turn on purchase alerts when possible
   •  Review your transactions regularly, not just when your statement arrives
   • Treat small “test” charges, even something like $1, as a warning sign
   • If your card has freeze/block options, use them immediately if something looks suspicious
   • Use chip or tap payments whenever possible instead of swiping
5. Consider using a digital wallet: Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay use tokenization, meaning your actual card number is not shared with the merchant. That can add an extra layer of protection.

What to Do if Something Seems Wrong

• Contact us right away so we can help secure your account
• Review recent transactions for anything unfamiliar
• If you suspect skimming at an ATM or gas pump, stop using that location and report it

If you receive a replacement card, don’t forget to update any automatic payments tied to your old card number.

Bottom Line

Fraudsters move quickly, so it’s important to stay proactive too. Paying attention to your transactions, using alerts, shopping carefully, and speaking up when something feels off can go a long way in helping protect your account.