How to Recognize a Card Reader Skimmer
Don't Get Scammed by a Skimmer.
Posted by on July 29, 2024
There are many scams happening today in cyberspace—digital thieves hacking into accounts and providing email and text links meant for stealing your ID online. But there is also a physical threat for stealing your personal and financial information—the skimmer.
What is a skimmer?
Skimmers are typically placed into the current card reader on a machine, masking the actual reader. There is also a pin hole camera that is placed about the keypad that is utilized to obtain your pin number. During the insertion of your card into the skimmer, your card number is then transferred over to an electronic card that is located within the skimming device.
What information can be stolen?
The information embedded in the magnetic stripe on your card includes your personal information like name, account number, plus the card’s expiration date, service code, and a card verification code (CVC).
Skimmers can usually be spotted by doing quick visual or physical inspections before swiping or inserting a card. Make sure card readers look as they should.
Once the thief has your information, they can make their own fake credit cards, make fraudulent purchases online or sell the stolen information on the internet.
How to spot a skimmer
Skimmers can be found in places like:
- Store self-checkout
- The gas pump
- ATMs and Interactive Video Teller Machines
- Restaurant table-top card readers
Before you insert your card into a card reader, do a visual and physical inspection. Skimmers often look a little larger than the area they cover and feel loose. Do not use that ATM and locate another one.
What can you do to avoid becoming a victim?
- You may utilize Apply Pay, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay in order to avoid having your card compromised with a merchant.
- An option when paying for gas is to inside with the cashier, where the POS system is less likely to have been tampered with.
As always, regularly check your account balance and activity and report anything suspicious immediately to your financial institution and to the FTC Fraud Center.