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If you have a credit, debit or prepaid card, there's a good chance it has an EMV chip. EMV chips are the small, square computer chips that appear on debit, credit and prepaid cards to help safeguard them against fraud. EMV (which stands for Europay, Mastercard and Visa) chips create a one-of-a-kind code for each credit transaction.
The use of EMV chips is on the rise, with the technology showing up on close to 11 billion cards worldwide as of early 2021. Here's what you need to know about how EMV chips work and how to avoid scams that use them.
How EMV Chip Cards Work
EMV chips transmit data just as magnetic strips on cards transmit data. However, payment terminals don't read EMV chips the same way they read magnetic strips.
A card with an EMV chip typically must be inserted into the slot of a payment terminal, which then reads the chip's data and verifies the card as authentic. You then must wait for the purchase to be authorized. This process is known as "dipping."
By contrast, making a purchase by sliding a card with a magnetic strip through a card reader is called "swiping." The magnetic strip also transmits data that enables authorization of a purchase and verification of a card. A swiped transaction may be a bit quicker than a dipped transaction, but it's not quite as secure.
One key difference between an EMV card and a magnetic strip card is that the EMV card produces a unique code for each transaction but the magnetic strip does not. As such, it's harder for fraudsters to steal data to produce counterfeit cards. That's why merchants and card issuers prefer EMV transactions, even though they are more complicated than magnetic strip transactions.
Most cards in the U.S. depend on chip-and-signature capabilities. In this type of transaction, a cardholder must provide a signature to complete a transaction. Outside the U.S., chip-and-PIN transactions are more common. In these transactions, a cardholder enters a four-digit PIN to validate a payment. Chip-and-PIN transactions are considered more secure than chip-and-signature transactions.
Another way to use an EMV card is as a contactless payment method. If the card has this capability, you can tap it on a payment terminal or wave it near the terminal to complete the transaction. A contactless transaction doesn't require a PIN.
What if a Merchant Doesn't Accept EMV Cards?
EMV chip cards still come with magnetic strips, so you should be able to use an EMV card even if a merchant doesn't have the equipment required for EMV transactions.
You also may be able to use a digital wallet. Some apps store credit card information electronically, letting you pull up a digital card on a smartphone and tap the phone on a payment terminal to complete a transaction.
Watch Out for EMV Chip Scams
While EMV chip cards have helped slash payment fraud, they haven't stopped crooks from committing card-related crimes. Today, thieves are targeting EMV cards through a scam known as "card shimming."
Employing this technique, a scammer inserts a thin device called a shim into a card reader that accepts EMV cards. This device copies and stores data from your card. A scammer can't produce another chip card with this information—however, they can produce a magnetic strip card with the data stolen from the EMV card.
To avoid being victimized by an EMV chip scam, take advantage of mobile payment apps or contactless tap-and-go functions when you're making a transaction.
The Bottom Line
To head off problems that may arise when credit card information or other personal information is compromised, enroll in free credit monitoring from Experian to help you quickly detect potential fraud. If you suspect you've been the victim of an EMV chip scam, contact your card issuer right away to report it. Checking your free Experian credit report can also alert you to suspicious activity related to your credit.