The New York Times reports that of all credit card hacking cases last year 38 percent were the result of breaches in hotel credit card security. This is because hotels lag behind banks and retail merchants in protecting credit card numbers from hackers. And it can take hotels months to discover the fraud, if in fact they ever do.

Fraud experts say that hackers often steal personal data and make multiple small charges to validate a card, probe its vulnerability and test the vigilance of a cardholder before making bigger charges.

Tip: check your credit card and debit card transaction history regularly, preferably online where you can spot a fraudster’s activity more quickly. Report even the smallest transaction that you don’t recognize.  Do this especially if you recently stayed at a hotel or motel. And don’t never leave credit card receipts lying around in your car or anywhere else. As the this article recommends, shred them. Shredders can be had at an office supply store for $20-$40 dollars.