Don’t think you’re at risk? Think again.

Have you ever handed your card over to a waitress, store clerk or hotel staff member when making a credit card purchase? If you answered yes, then you are at risk of being a victim of credit card “skimming.”

A skimmer is a small, hand held device (often as small as a pager!) which enables a thief to immediately obtain your credit card information in just seconds.  The scenario usually plays out like this: the employee takes your card and leaves to run your credit card for your purchase. With just an extra swipe of your card into the skimmer, the thief now has your name and credit card information.

The thief then usually downloads this information onto a computer and uses it for a variety of fraudulent activities. Many thieves are able to duplicate counterfeit cards and then distribute them for use worldwide.

This problem is huge and getting bigger by the day. In fact, it is estimated that skimming costs consumers more than $1 billion each year.

There are a few things you can do prevent a skimmer from damaging your credit:

• Never let a clerk, waitress or other type of employee walk away with your credit card. Pay cash at restaurants and other venues where your credit card must leave your site.
• Keep a close eye on your credit card bill so that you can catch fraudulent activity before it gets out of hand and ruins your credit score.
• Immediately contact the credit card company in question if you notice any unauthorized charges on your credit card.
• Immediately contact the three, major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – if you suspect any fraudulent activity and ask them to put a fraud alert on your credit report.

It is important to remember that, as a consumer, you must remain on high alert when it comes to your credit. Stay informed, read your credit card statements carefully, and immediately contact the appropriate sources if you suspect any kind of fraudulent activity on your credit card.