Coronavirus: Credit card thieves target online shoppers with digital skimmers during shelter-in-place order

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- I have been warning for years about credit card skimming. That's where thieves secretly steal your credit card information when you swipe or insert your card at a bank, store or gas station. Thieves install reading devices on top of legit readers, and your information is "skimmed."

Online security expert, Robert Siciliano, spoke with ABC's Nightline about it.

"Unfortunately when it comes to stealing credit card information," he said, "it is as easy as swiping your card on any device."

Now that we are not shopping in physical locations, you would figure the skimming thieves would be out of business. But that is not how things are working out; criminals are taking credit card skimming online.

Steve Ginty is with the security firm, RiskIQ.

RELATED: Coronavirus: Scammers seek to steal stimulus payments and identities

"These actors are putting malicious code on vulnerable e-commerce websites," he tells me, "at the time you check out from your online shopping experience, your credit card information is getting skimmed from the website."

When shopping online there comes a moment when you are giving up your personal information, but it is not yet encrypted. It is right before you pay.

"When you fill out your credit card information on a shopping cart form and you type that information at the time of check out," Ginty explains, "the actors are able to collect that type of information because they are collecting it before it is encrypted."

So how do you protect yourself? Don't put in that information! Instead use a third-party payment services like PayPal or Apple Pay. Why does that work? Well, the information is encrypted during the entire transaction. Criminals lose their moment of opportunity.

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

If you have a question or comment about the coronavirus pandemic, submit yours via the form below or here.

Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic here

RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:

• Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US, around the world
• Coronavirus data: See how the curve of COVID-19 cases is bending in each Bay Area county
• Everything you need to know about the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order
• Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic
• Stimulus calculator: How much money should you expect from coronavirus relief bill
• WATCH: ABC7's interactive town hall 'Race and Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation'
• What Bay Area tenants need to know about rent payments, eviction amid COVID-19 outbreak
• Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
• Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area/
• Coronavirus and the new normal of living in the San Francisco-Bay Area -- COVID-19 Diaries
• Happy hour goes virtual as people try to be sociable while social distancing during COVID-19 crisis
• Coronavirus Outbreak: Here's why you should practice 'social distancing'
• DRONEVIEW7: What the Bay Area looks like during the coronavirus shelter-in-place
• ABC7's drive around San Francisco shows empty streets, businesses shuttered
• Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US
• List of stores, companies closing due to coronavirus pandemic
• Canceled late fees, free services available amid COVID-19 crisis
• Here's how you can help during COVID-19 pandemic
• How to maintain learning during school closures
• No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs
• Here's a look at some of history's worst pandemics that have killed millions
• Asian community fighting racism, xenophobia, bigotry as world fights COVID-19