Mr. R. occasionally works on those card readers at gas stations, he sees what is out there. Outdated machinery, where it is easy to get your number. We only use cash at gas stations. I rarely use my debit card - one of my banks canceled my debit card for non-use:)
Years ago, I had my debit card compromised at a gas station in Turkey:) of all places while I lived in the US??? - then they somehow used it on an online gambling site and a few other places.
It was very odd because the charges were all minimal - mostly $3-5 max $6, with just two charges in the twenties.
The whole thing must have gone on for over a week for a total of under $100. My credit union caught it before I did and returned the money after about two weeks and questioning me on the use of my card, but even the pending charges were all minimal.
At first, I thought maybe it was a kid testing the criminal waters, but then I figured it was probably a major scam worldwide and those $3 charges add up quickly if you have tens of thousands of cards at your disposal.
The same credit union canceled my debit card twice without telling me - letters arrived the following day. Once, because of a scam involving Publix and once for a scam involving Target - stolen numbers on the store's own database. Nothing happened, thank goodness.
Ticked me off no end because I was out and about and this was the only card I had with me - still better than the alternative, but nevertheless another nuisance in our techie world.
So yeah, I now use a credit card and cash.