January 26, 2009
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News: Protect Your CCs from Skimmer Scummer Scams.
We feel so violated and mistrustful when someone steals from us. Even if we get reimbursed, it still leaves that anxiety behind. We wonder what will happen next after our secure credit card information is stolen. There are a few safeguards that can give us some comfort, however. One of the less foolproof methods of degenerate thieves is the practice of using ‘credit card ‘skimmers'. ‘Skimmers'are costly electronic devices that can be stuck on the faceplates of credit card readers typically used at ATM machines and gas pumps.
These are always visible and usually conspicuous. Applied to a faceplate of a credit card reader, they can extract and store all of the information on the magnetic strip on the back of a debit or credit card. The card will insert normally and your transaction will still work but, your card will have been scanned by both devices. On ATMs, a remote camera will usually be mounted in a less conspicuous place that will videotape your keystrokes as you type in your PIN code. The rest of the work is easy for the thieves. All they have to do is take the equipment home and upload your card information into a PC and view the video.
What can we do to protect ourselves? Know that these skimmers must be stuck in front of the legitimate reader which means, they usually stick out farther then the real reader. The fake faceplate will usually not look as weathered and faded as the surrounding surfaces. Also, because of their intended low profile, they won't usually have the picture of a generic credit card which shows you the correct way to insert your card. If you're familiar with how the reader should look, that's a tip-off. Gas pumps are the most common targets, so look at the other pumps and see if the reader looks the same. If not, don't use that pump and alert the management of the business. Also, track what is done in response. If you find mischief involved, alert local police, just to be sure. Same applies at ATMs. If the bank is closed and you're pretty sure of mischief, considering notifying local police and use another ATM. Especially if the device feels ‘loose' or is not as weathered like the rest of the machine.