Only enter card details on secure websites; monitor statements regularly.
Physical card threats include skimmers on ATMs and fuel pumps (check for anything loose, off-color, or unusual on the card reader before using it), shoulder surfing (someone watching you enter your PIN), and tap-and-go theft (contactless transactions require proximity but not your PIN below the contactless limit).
Digital card threats include entering card details on insecure or fake websites, data breaches at merchants storing card numbers, and card-not-present fraud where your number alone enables fraudulent online purchases without physical access to your card.
Credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards in most jurisdictions. With a debit card, fraudulent charges come directly from your bank balance and recovery may take days. Credit card fraud is resolved before you ever pay the statement, and your bank account is never directly touched.
Review your card statements monthly, and enable transaction notifications on your phone if your bank offers them. Fraud caught within hours limits damage far more than fraud discovered on a monthly statement.