There’s some really scary stuff being discussed over at Creditor Web. Apparently, identity theft schemes have stepped up a notch and the latest trend is “skimming.” The latest episodes are not unlike the old ATM scams that were superficial faceplates placed by hopeful thieves in order to record personal banking information.

First of all, handheld copying devices no bigger than a lighter make it imperative that you watch the cashier carefully the entire time they possess your credit card.

“Think about it- if you’re impatiently waiting to get out of the store, are you watching the cashier closely? Some cashiers may engage you in conversation to distract you as they slide the card through their miniature theft device.”

One wonders if this is not how the young lady at the center of a recent Glamour magazine article became a victim of identity theft. After all, this unfortunate victim eventually had a face-to-face confrontation with her thief, who was a barista in a busy San Francisco coffee shop.

CreditorWeb also states that skimming devices have been planted in gas stations in California.

“The thieves were able to steal credit and debit card numbers, as well as PINs, from about sixty customers. They have used the stolen card numbers to finance $15,000 of fraudulent charges.”

So the latest recommended defense is to pay inside at gas stations, not at the pump. Experts also recommend paying with cash whenever possible, although this can be a real bummer for rewards gurus. Of course, through all the various stages of identity theft, a common defense has been to watch your bank account very closely. Shred personal financial documents. ID thieves are smart, but you can be smarter and stay a step ahead.