Make money work for you!

  • Home
  • Personal Finance
  • Budgeting
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

5 Places to Avoid Using Your Debit Card and 3 Safe Spots

February 8, 2026 · Personal Finance
A standalone ATM on a quiet city street at night.

2. Outdoor & Non-Bank ATMs

We’ve all been there: You’re at a cash-only festival, a dive bar, or a convenience store, and you need cash fast. You spot a generic ATM in the corner. Do not use it.

Independent ATMs (those not owned by a major bank) usually have lower security standards than bank-branch machines. They are often located in dimly lit or low-traffic areas, giving criminals ample time to install skimming devices or hidden cameras to capture your PIN.

Furthermore, FICO data indicates that while overall skimming rates fluctuate, compromises at non-bank ATMs remain a significant chunk of fraud cases. If a criminal skims your card here, they have your card data and your PIN—the “keys to the kingdom” for draining your account.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 comments on “5 Places to Avoid Using Your Debit Card and 3 Safe Spots”

  1. motrin says:
    February 22, 2026 at 12:28 am

    you pushed everyone once to use debit cards, and now you claim there not that safe, well nothing electronic is safe for there is always someone who will steal
    the good old dollar was the safest, cash out cash back

    Reply
  2. Larry Brungardt says:
    February 14, 2026 at 4:01 pm

    The CARD PREMIUM BANK ACCOUNT I HAD OPEN SINCE 2023 HAD MY RETIREMENT two FUNDS DEPSITED EVERY MONTH> I HAD an incident FEW years even before the Card account where when I applied for my TSA pass The agent left his lap top in the back seat of his car. Theieves brke into his car stole his lap top sold all my TSA information on the Dark webb. I filedpolice report all three credit bureas. but card has never told me there rerason for a denial of 805.13 wiping out my account they first reimbused me then I filed a dispute form talked to them on phone several times They have yet to giveme a reason for the denial. I then taked to the person assigned to me to protect all the fraud they tell him my account was used illegally in 2025 then the 805.13 they credited me they took back becaise of a 2025 so called incident. So because some criminal used my account they are okay for a charge of 805.13 charge to a China calling iktself OCOXTECH HONG KONG That amount just was about all tghe money I had in there clearly a case of Fraud 1) i never buy from China and in the three years nevr ever had a charge for over 800 to any company let alone in China They punish the victim here wehich is so wrong

    Reply
Se încarcă comentarii...

Nu mai există comentarii de afișat.

Search

Latest Posts

  • A warm, candid photo of a smiling senior woman at a market checkout counter, handing a canvas bag to a cashier in soft morning light. The Best Retail Discounts Available to Seniors
  • An elegant watercolor and ink illustration depicting stylized plants representing different income streams like fixed income and dividends. The Supplemental Income Sources Available Today
  • An older woman sits thoughtfully at her kitchen table looking at a paper bill in warm afternoon light. What a Smaller COLA Could Mean for Your Budget
  • Gouache illustration of a couple nurturing a golden plant protected by a glass dome labeled Tax-Free Shield. The Retirement Planning Move That Pays Off Later
  • A retired couple confidently reviews financial documents together in their sunlit, cozy living room. How to Protect Your Retirement Income From Inflation
  • A stylized risograph illustration of a giant red balloon with a percent sign pulling a shopping cart upward as a person tries to hold it dow What Happens If Inflation Keeps Rising?
  • The Retirement Income Mistake That Could Cost You Thousands The Retirement Income Mistake That Could Cost You Thousands
  • An older couple sitting at a wooden kitchen table reviewing their finances with a calculator and bank statements in warm morning light. Could Your Social Security Check Change Next Year?
  • A warm, textured paper collage showing scissors trimming a receipt alongside icons of a house, car, and grocery basket. 7 Purchases Retirees Are Cutting Back On
  • An illustration of a classic mailbox with an envelope reading 'Social Security Update: Proposed Boost' under warm morning light. Congress Is Considering a Bigger Social Security Raise Than the COLA - Here's What We Know

Newsletter

Get money-saving tips and personal finance advice delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

A person sits at a desk in a home office, working on a laptop, with sunlight illuminating the room.

Part-Time Jobs That Won’t Affect Your Social Security Benefits

Finding the Right Balance: Work That Works for You Now that we’ve covered the rules…

Read More →
A senior man in a knit sweater sits at a sunny wooden desk at home, organizing legal documents and folders in a quiet morning setting.

9 Things Retirees Should Put in Writing

Learn the 9 essential legal and financial documents every retiree needs to put in writing…

Read More →
A senior citizen reviews Medicare documents at a table, with a Medicare card, calendar, and magnifying glass nearby.

An Introduction to Medicare: Parts A, B, C, and D Explained

Diving Deep into Part A: Hospital Insurance Medicare Part A is often called hospital insurance…

Read More →
side gigs

5 Side Gigs You Can Do from Your Smartphone

Hands holding a smartphone over a wooden table with coffee, demonstrating how easy it is…

Read More →
amazon product, online shopping websites

7 Ways to Spot Fake Amazon Products

3. The Product Is Familiar But the Brand Isn’t When you find an item that…

Read More →

Social Security Alert: Up to $5,181 Hitting Accounts This Week

How Much You Can Expect to Receive The amount each person receives in Social Security…

Read More →
Financial freedom

These 8 Habits Will Make You Reach Financial Freedom

Whilst every individual’s idea of financial freedom is unique, there are some things that tend…

Read More →
most expensive antiques

Top 7 Most Expensive Antiques You Probably Own Too

3. Furniture and light fittings Furniture has always been one of the most expensive antiques,…

Read More →
disabilities

Living With Disabilities? Here Are 14 Ways to Get Financial Assistance

Tons of adults live with a disability, and the financial needs and constant access to…

Read More →
The Money Place

Make money work for you!

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@ineditagency.com

Trust & Legal

  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Request to Know
  • Request to Delete
  • CA Private Policy

Categories

  • Budgeting
  • Personal Finance
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

© 2026 The Money Place. All rights reserved.