Here's how it works: fraudsters test combinations of numbers until they manage to find a number that matches a real card. Then they grab gift cards that can be easily found in grocery stores. They create new cards by shaving off the old numbers and gluing the numbers back on in the sequence they need. Credit shavers alter only the last four digits of the card number. The first twelve numbers may be the same on many cards—serving as an identification code for a financial institution.  Using a razor blade and superglue may sound like childish antics, but in fact it's an extremely dangerous credit scam.

Police officers point out that victims generally have no idea what's happening, while scammers charge more and more dollars on the card.

What can you do to protect yourself from this crime? Keep an eye on your transactions every day with home banking and by carefully going over your monthly card statements. By noticing unexpected transactions, you can avoid paying thousands of dollars for the items you never bought.