Why does our credit card get hacked every time we go to WDW?

[Simba's Mom]

It seems like every time we go to WDW our credit card gets hacked. Yesterday DH got a "fraud alert" and had to cancel his card. Seems like someone charged 1 cent, then a few minutes later, a charge for about $10-$20, which was when he got the alert and canceled the card (Good work by the CC Company) Does this ever happen to anyone else?
Mods-feel free to move this if there's a better location.

 

[squeezeplay101]

It seems like every time we go to WDW our credit card gets hacked. Yesterday DH got a "fraud alert" and had to cancel his card. Seems like someone charged 1 cent, then a few minutes later, a charge for about $10-$20, which was when he got the alert and canceled the card (Good work by the CC Company) Does this ever happen to anyone else?
Mods-feel free to move this if there's a better location.

I haven't had that issue, thankfully!

Any thoughts on what you do differently while at WDW with your credit cards? I keep mine in RFID protectors, and keep my cards in sight when using them. Vacation spots can be easy pickings for thieves to get your credit card info

 

[Chirple]

It seems like every time we go to WDW our credit card gets hacked. Yesterday DH got a "fraud alert" and had to cancel his card. Seems like someone charged 1 cent, then a few minutes later, a charge for about $10-$20, which was when he got the alert and canceled the card (Good work by the CC Company) Does this ever happen to anyone else?
Mods-feel free to move this if there's a better location.

Happened to my husband once or twice in WDW. He now uses an RFID wallet. I also have an RFID wallet but use those blocking sleeves when I switch to one that doesn't have it. We use cash, gift cards, or our Disney Rewards cards to pay for meals and snacks. If making a store purchase, I use Apple Wallet.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Happened to my husband once or twice in WDW. He now uses an RFID wallet. I also have an RFID wallet but use those blocking sleeves when I switch to one that doesn't have it. We use cash, gift cards, or our Disney Rewards cards to pay for meals and snacks. If making a store purchase, I use Apple Wallet.

DH has an RFID wallet. However, I think it's a great idea to use only cash, gift cards, and Disney Rewards card to pay for meals and snacks going forward.

 

[kdonnel]

Skimmers are a common beginning to credit card fraud. If you are driving to Disney it could be one or more of the gas stations you stop at along the way.

 

[kdonnel]

Digital Wallets like Apple Wallet, Samsung Pay, and Google Wallet are more resistant against skimming so you can reduce you chances of having your card compromised by using one of those payment methods.

And always use a credit card, not a debit card, so you don't have to worry about it being your money at risk.

 

[MICKIMINI]

It has happened twice. Once, we actually figured out it happened and turned it over to the fraud department at the CC co. The other time it happened, supposedly it was when we purchased something from a local business at home just before we went. Always bring AMEX and 2 different Visa cards. If that was your only card, you'd be pretty screwed. We always carry about $500 in cash and gift cards too. I think you can still cash a check at the desk at a DVC resort, but I never think to put a check in my wallet. Agree with OP, always use credit cards!

 

[lowlight]

It has happened to me twice, the last two times I have gone actually. It was on a card I barely used on property (use MB mostly) and always tap to pay instead of inserting. It must have been someone using an RF scanner tool somewhere, so I keep it in a RFID sleeve.

 

[soccerdad72]

Probably not specific issue with WDW, but vacation destinations in general.

 

[Brian Noble]

Digital Wallets like Apple Wallet, Samsung Pay, and Google Wallet are more resistant against skimming so you can reduce you chances of having your card compromised by using one of those payment methods.

This is also true of contactless credit cards and EMV chip payments. While someone can get a contactless card to respond by placing a device within an inch or two of it, the response is not particularly useful to a fraudster later because of the protocol they use. So the RFID blockers don't really add much.

I haven't had a card fraudulently charged in years, and that includes many trips to WDW. That is probably in part because I use contactless or EMV payments almost exclusively at this point.

 

[jimmymc]

Luckily not yet, but I also only use my Disney card for Disney World purchases. And most of those are done through the app or as contactless, which are more difficult to steal.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Zero times for us. But we almost pay everything with our MB's (since they have a PIN code for security) and then stop in the lobby every couple of days and pay those charges off with discounted GC's.

 

[HopperFan]

Orlando aka Disney World vicinity is the only place my cards ever got hacked.

 

[gr8ful]

Vacation spots can be easy pickings for thieves to get your credit card info

Also airports and other public transportation facilities.