As we march ever closer toward a cashless society — and regardless of how any apprehensions we may have about that — the time is now to ramp up security at the checkout.

Credit card fraud is on the rise and the most common form of identity theft.

The statistics are staggering – and somewhat surprising:

– 63% of U.S. credit card holders have been victimized by fraud; 51% were hit multiple times.

– 62 million Americans reported fraudulent card purchases last year.

– Losses surpassed $12.5 billion in 2024 alone.

Odds are pretty good that you or someone you know has been a victim.

An article by Jen Garofalo’s this spring took a look at one of the ways so-called “digital thieves” are helping themselves to our money.

Illegal devices known as “skimmers” and “shimmers” are being attached to credit card readers at gas pumps, self-checkouts and ATM machines. The “skimmers” are placed on top of card readers to capture data from the credit card stripe, while wafer-thin “shims” are tucked inside readers to pull information from cards with chips.

When an unsuspecting customer swipes his or her card or inserts it into the card reader, the device captures their financial information. Thieves then retrieve the data via Bluetooth, an SD card or by removing the device and downloading the information.

If you think it can’t happen here, think again.

“It feels like a violation of your privacy when your information is stolen,” state police Trooper Kalee Barnhart told our sister newspaper, the Herald-Standard of Uniontown.

And while there’s no foolproof way to prevent being scammed, Barnhart stressed vigilance is key and offered a few tips.

At the ATM, inspect machines for unusual looking card readers, keypads that look bulkier than normal or stickers in strange places. Check to see if the device is loose.

Cover the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent any hidden cameras from capturing your numbers.

Opt for contactless payments. Tapping reduces shimming and skimming risks.

Above all, regularly review account statements, and notify your bank or credit card company immediately to report any suspicious charges.

It’s your money. You earned it. Protect it.