What's worse: fraudulent use of your debit card or your credit card?
Ken at DepositAccounts.com reminds us that debit card fraud can create problems when your checking account gets drained (and you may have to get the press involved). You simply can't pay bills that you need to pay, and you have to wait for the bank to replace the money before moving on with your life.
Cleaning up the mess is much easier with a credit card; the charges are simply removed and your bank account is unaffected.
Debit card fraud is especially tricky when your PIN is used. If you share your PIN or write it down somewhere, the bank has a harder time believing that money's been stolen. Yes, you're still protected -- but it's not as easy to get things back in order.
Find a way to keep your PIN safe. If you need a few ideas, see how to store and use PINs safely.