We all know our credit card information is under constant attack, but according to law enforcement, more criminals are using that information to make physical, fraudulent credit cards.
"The criminals who have bee doing this for a while, it's actually really easy," Detective Tim White, with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Economic Crime Division, said. They're able to buy the different mechanisms to make the cards and to re-code the mag-strip that's on the back of the card."
Law enforcement just arrested 34-year-old Joandy Jimenez of Miami with 20 counterfeit cards at a gas station on Gunn Highway. He was using the cards to fill an illegal bladder with as much gasoline as he could.
According to White, the criminals can re-code old credit cards or prepaid debit cards. Some criminals have the ability to print brand new cards.
"They may even print a fake number on the front of it," he said.
White says some clerks are checking to see if numbers match after the card is swiped and new chip technology is making counterfeiting more difficult.
He says the most popular ways for criminals to get your information is through unsecured wifi connections, unprotected websites and skimmers at gas stations and ATMs.
He said the best way to keep from becoming a victim is to check your credit card and bank activity daily.
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