Before you insert your debit card at the gas station, you should always...

Before inserting your debit card at the gas station, it is essential to check out the card reader to see if it looks different, loose, or worn. This practice is crucial in protecting yourself from skimming devices, which are illegal devices that can be attached to card readers to capture your card information without your knowledge. By examining the card reader, you can look for any signs of tampering or unusual characteristics, such as extra parts that don’t seem like they belong. This vigilance helps to safeguard your financial information from potential theft.

The other options, while they address various aspects of using a debit card, do not directly contribute to protecting your personal information at the pump as effectively as checking the card reader does. Asking a clerk about theft at the location, ensuring you have enough money, or opting to pay cash may enhance your overall security or financial readiness, but they do not mitigate the risks associated with card skimming that can occur specifically at gas pumps. Therefore, assessing the integrity of the card reader is the most critical step in ensuring the safety of your financial data at the point of transaction.