Your debit card is likely the most convenient tool in your wallet. It grants you instant access to your cash, helps you avoid debt, and works almost everywhere. But that direct link to your checking account is exactly what makes it dangerous.

When a criminal steals your credit card information, they are spending the bank’s money. When they steal your debit card information, they are spending your money. According to a 2025 report by FICO, debit card compromises at ATMs and point-of-sale terminals remain a persistent threat, with over 231,000 cards compromised in the U.S. alone during the previous year.

Beyond fraud, using a debit card in the wrong place can tie up your actual cash with “holds” that last for days, potentially causing overdrafts or leaving you unable to pay other bills. To protect your hard-earned money, you need to know where to swipe and where to think twice.