Spot the Sneaky Tools Used to Skim Your Account Number/Pins at ATMs

Row of Credit Cards

Credit card skimmers are one of the most successful tools nowadays in cybercrime, with thieves attaching them to pay portals that are used by many, on a regular basis, such as at gas pumps, ATM machines, and cashier terminals, putting anybody who swiped their cards at these places in risk. Once a card skimmer is in place, the electronic device is able to steal the information stored on the magnetic strip of your card.

Once the information is stolen, cybercriminals are able to use the personal information to make a clone of the card, which can then be used to destroy an individual’s credit, run up large bills, and leave your bank account empty, oftentimes before you are even aware the offence has been committed.

Credit card skimmers are the main reason that many credit card companies and retail outlets are now switching to EMV cards, but the process is slow going and they are not yet available everywhere. As a result of card skimmers, groups of thieves as well as individuals have been successful in stealing millions of dollars.

In order to achieve this sort of volume using skimmers, it would require approximately 42,000 transactions to be effected, which gives a good indication as to how common and easy it can be to have your finances compromised by this sort of crime.

Card Skimmers Are Readily Available

A major concern with card skimmers is that they can show up just about anywhere, especially because they are easily available for purchase to anybody who desires one. Simply reading the news in recent months makes it clear how common it is to come across a skimmer, with dozens being discovered at various gas stations at many locations, including several cities in Cincinnati, Florida, as well as Detroit and St Louis.

Skimmer use at ATMs has as much as tripled in areas of New York this year. Now that awareness about card skimmers has been raised, you may be left wondering how to protect yourself by spotting a skimmer before you allow your information to be compromised. Read on to learn how to avoid falling victim to this thievery.

Identifying Different Card Skimmers

In order to protect yourself from card skimmers, it is important to understand the two different types of commonly found skimmers, as explained below:

Overlay Skimmers – an overlay skimmer fits over the card reader slot at a gas pump or ATM machine. With older, or low quality models there are a few characteristics that make it identifiable, such as:

• often modelled, or sometimes 3-D printed, to look as though it is part of the covering. Be aware that it may be the same quality and color as the rest of the machine to be deceiving, however, if it looks as though it doesn’t quite fit, because of protruding slightly or not being installed perfectly straight, than it is an indication that the machine may be compromised.
• look for additions or devices on the machine that could potentially hide a camera that would be directed at the machine’s keypad. Oftentimes thieves use this method to obtain PIN numbers. Cameras can be installed directly on or even above ATM machines. Caution should be exercised as often the cameras are concealed or disguised to appear as something else, such as electrical plugs and items of that nature that may not seem out of place in such an environment.

Defeating overlay skimmers can be quite simple, and for the most part only requires the machine user to cover the keypad with their hand as they enter their PIN, as without it the thieves will not have all of the information required to clone your card.

Advanced Skimmers – advanced skimmers are unfortunately more difficult to spot, and can sometimes even be impossible to catch. A particularly effective model comes from Brazil, and is actually an overlay skimmer, however, the entire front of the ATM machine is fake, making it much harder to spot the offending hardware.

Advanced skimmers can present in a variety of fashions, and many examples are described below.

• skimmers at gas station pumps, as described below, are often hid inside the pump itself, and commonly are even equipped with Bluetooth so thieves have the ability to collect the stolen information and PINS wirelessly, simply by driving by the location.
• another type of skimmer, relatively new, is thin enough to fit right inside a gas pump or ATM card reader slot, meaning there is no external indications that the skimmer is present.
• handheld skimmers are commonly found in restaurants and stores, used by exploitive employees who will steal your financial information without you ever seeing the device or having any idea one is present.

Protecting Against Card Skimmers

Although advanced skimmers are less commonly found, and are considerably more expensive than overlay skimmers, in coming years we can expect to see them become far more widespread and affordable. Fortunately, we are seeing more and more banks switch to EMV cards, that use chip technology as opposed to magnetic strip as an answer to these concerns.

In addition to new technology for bank cards, mobile payment options are also becoming increasingly popular, with consumers able to send payment directly from their smartphone, regardless if they are an Apple or Android user. In order to avoid having your financial information compromised, it is recommended to avoid using electronic payment methods at locations that are most likely to have card skimmers installed, including restaurants, gas stations and online.

As an added precaution, text alerts can be set up on your banking cards that notify you whenever there is activity on the card, making you aware immediately if your information has been stolen.

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