I'm surprised at the number of people who tell me they won't shop or bank online. I smile to myself and think back to an old Dilbert cartoon where the gang is eating lunch and talking about the dangers of shopping on line. Dilbert gives the waitress his credit card, and she comes back wearing a new mink coat.
Unlikely? Not so much. It's easier than you think to steal the information from the magnetic strip on your card. Card scanners are tiny and easy to conceal. If your card is out of your site for even a short time someone can swipe your card, take the info from the magnetic strip and then program it onto another card.
Writing checks is also more risky today. Moderately sophisticated crooks regularly steal checks you put in the mail - or even write at the store - can be "washed" and the payee and amount can be changed. Even if the thief isn't savvy enough to change your check, all the information needed to electronically raid your account is on the front of your check.
Statistically, shopping on the Internet is actually safer than writing a check or paying with a credit card that leaves your sight.
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