Card skimmer? We don't need no stinking card skimmer.

While card skimming is obviously a problem and a threat (The Canadian Privacy Law Blog: Bank card skimming arrest in Nova Scotia), what many people don't realize is that all that is encoded on your average debit card magnetic strip is the card number. Your card number and your PIN are all that are needed to recreate an exact copy of your card and raid your accounts. Companies that continue to put the full debit card number on receipts are making it easy for anyone who finds that receipt to completely recreate your card. Criminal clerks at stores don't even need to skim your card to rip you off. Their employer helps them do it.