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The Daily Insight Hub

How do they steal your credit card info?

Author

Isabella Turner

Updated on February 01, 2026

There are two small, difficult-to-detect devices criminals can install in legitimate card readers to steal credit card information during transactions: skimmers and shimmers. After stealing a card’s information, the thief creates a duplicate card in a process referred to as “cloning.”

What type of malware steals credit card info?

Spyware: Type of malware used by keyloggers that runs in the background of a device, monitoring online activity and keystrokes in real-time to steal information.

How did someone get my card details?

Card details – card number, card holder name, date of birth and address – are stolen, often from online databases or through email scams, then sold and used on the internet, or over the phone. Committing fraudulent applications in someone else’s name for a new credit card, without that person knowing.

Can I find out who used my credit card?

Credit card companies can track where your stolen credit card was last used, in most cases, only once the card is used by the person who took it. The credit card authorization process helps bank’s track this. However, by the time law enforcement arrives, the person may be long gone.

Can malware steal credit card info?

There are many types of malware that can infect your computer, but the types that can steal your data are simply called “information stealers.” They are made up of things like keyloggers, screen recorders and memory scrapers. Using this method, a hacker can steal any data from computer passwords to credit card numbers.

How can I prevent my credit card from being hacked?

7 Ways to Protect Against Credit Card Hacks

  1. Get a Replacement Card.
  2. Check Your Account Online.
  3. Freeze Your Credit.
  4. Place a Fraud Alert.
  5. Order Your Credit Reports.
  6. Watch for Phishing Scams.
  7. Be Smart About Passwords.

Can credit card transactions be traced?

In criminal cases in which a credit card is stolen, the suspect often is located – to some extent – by tracking the card, Skoczylas says. At crime scenes, there’s usually some evidence, such as bills, that provides insights into a victim’s or suspect’s credit card history, according to Skoczylas.

What kind of credit card information is stolen?

Counterfeit: Credit card or other accounts opened using stolen information from real people. Credit card skimming: A device that steals credit or debit card information from card readers such as a gas pump or ATM.

How can cyber criminals steal your credit card information?

It’s not just through data breaches that cyber thieves can steal credit card information. Criminals are using a strategy called “formjacking,” where they use malicious code to steal your credit card details and other information during the checkout process on online retail sites.

Who is the threat actor stealing credit card information?

A threat actor has infected an e-commerce store with a custom credit card skimmer designed to siphon data stolen by a previously deployed Magento card stealer.

How can thieves get your credit card number?

Card skimmers are devices that will allow thieves to capture the digital information embedded in credit cards. They may be used by the waiter that you’ve given your card to pay the bill, or sneakily slipped into the credit card reader or some other automated device. Data breaches are another way thieves can get your credit card number.