It could be the new RFID technology. This stands for Radio Frequency Identification and is basically a wireless way to connect to card readers.

If anyone has cards that are capable of being used by tapping or just scanning in front of a card reader instead of being swiped or having to use a PIN, your credit card info could be stolen right out of your pants pocket or purse.

If your credit cards read “Paypass”, “Zip”, “Paywave” or “Express Pay" or something similar on them, then they have an RFID chip imbedded which can be read from a distance under the right circumstances and with the right equipment. Then your card info is transferred to an RFID blank card and the thief is in business.

US Passports issued after 2006 supposedly also have this technology as well as some state driver's licenses. My Michigan DL stated that it does not contain this technology. How about yours?

This may or may not be what happened in these instances; but, if I had these kinds of cards, and I don't thankfully, I would be asking my credit card issuer to send me a new one without that technology.

We have had credit card info stolen and used as well BEFORE this RFID technology, so certainly this may have been the case.

It's a good idea when traveling to use Travelers' Checks, if you can find them, or only bring cash, or only bring credit cards that don't have this new RFID chip. But, hey, this stuff can and does happen at home as well.

Never give your debit card to someone else to take and scan for you (restaurants), always use your PIN when using your debit card, obviously protect your PIN number from the scrutiny of others.

Check your credit card statements frequently (I do ours every week), balance your credit card statements every month to ensure that the charges are legit, tell your card issuers when and where you are traveling if out of the country, set up alerts on your credit cards that will let you know by text or email or whatever that a over a certain limit has been charged or a foreign transaction has been charged.

It's up to each of us to be as vigilant as possible to protect our credit from being used by someone else. You have worked hard for your credit; don't allow some thief to screw that up for you.