Hi friends, thanks for downloading the Money Girl Podcast.

I'm Laura Adams, the author of Money Money Girls Smart Moves to Grow Rich.

So you're in a store you see that thing that you've been eyeing for a while and today

it's finally on sale. You reach for your credit card to make the

purchase but it isn't in the usual spot. As your heart starts to race you

frantically check a few different places and that's when you realize your credit card is gone.

If you're lucky you might remember where you left the card and get it back without a problem.

But if your credit or debit card was stolen,

or if you have the card but someone used your number

to go on a spending spree,

I'll tell you exactly how to protect yourself and your credit.

First, let's cover how thieves typically get your confidential information in the first place.

Here are six ways crooks can lift your debit or credit card.

Number one, stealing.

A thief can take your wallet, purse, credit card or personal documents the old-fashioned way by snatching them when you're not looking.

Number two, dumpster diving.

This dirty pastime involves rummaging through trash bins, looking for bills, statements, or other documents

with confidential information that you neglected

to turn into confetti.

Number three, skimming. A skimmer is an electronic storage device that steals your card number.

It can be installed over the swipe slot on a self-service machine, like a gas pump or an ATM.

Dishonous clerks can also use a skimmer while they process your card in a store or

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