The simple fact is that anyone can do this at anytime as long as they have temporary possession of your card. Heck, they don’t even need your card if they can pick up the receipt with your number on it if you throw it away. (Yes,.. some stores still print your full credit card number on the receipt. It’s a rarity, but it happens more than you think). The only solace to be found is that statistically, this type of ID theft is rare. Also, that’s what Fraud departments at credit cards are for. In fact,.. that’s the exact reason that I do use credit cards (instead of debit); If anything fraudulent happens, the credit card company takes care of it, instead of me loosing my own money.