That's true, Carol, it's just a big hassle if someone uses your credit card number fraudulently, that's all. I've known it to happen to several people, but they weren't held responsible for the bills, as you say.

I usually use a credit card at gas pumps, because I get a sizable discount if I go to the right stations, but I use the debit card more at restaurants and the grocery.

I'm not sure how the "skimming" works, but I've heard of it. I have not heard of anyone who it happened to (and whom I know personally).

Okay.............

Here's what you can do to be REALLY SAFE!   ;-) Keep all your money in cash, and live in a fortified castle bristling with armed guards at the gate and on the walls. Pay those guards well and treat them well, and they will serve you well. Kill anyone who attempts to penetrate the armoured vaults where your cold cash is kept, mostly in the form of gold bullion, of course. Feed them to the alligators that you keep in the dungeon. Have an innermost secret security service in plain clothes who have sworn blood oaths to watch your uniformed guards, just in case. Hold hostages from guards' and security officers' families to make double, triple, certain sure that they won't pull an "inside job" and betray you. Employ orphans from birth, indoctrinate them and bring them up to serve YOU and YOU ALONE to the death! Show NO mercy to traitors and poor people who might try to steal a bit of your cash!

It will take a fortune of billions to do this, but if you have billions to protect, it's worth it!

This is what people like the secret Masters of the incoming New World Order do, and it works for them, so why not you? (grin)