It seems skimmers are so sophisticated that they can even trick a US Attorney. Jenny Durkan is the chief law enforcement office for western Washington state as well as the chair of the Justice Department’s Cybercrime Subcommittee. The criminals picked the wrong person for credit card fraud.
Thieves have created devices that they just slip over ATM machines, gas station machines, anywhere that takes your debit card. Thieves install the card reader along with a tiny camera pointed at the keypad to record your pin # as you enter it in.
Once the thief has your card scanned and the pin number, they just manufacture another credit card with the same magnetic stripe numbers on the back as yours. They then use the new card in another machine, enter your pin and clean out your bank account.
According to electronic payments expert Richard Crone, of the 1.36 million gas pumps in the United States, an estimated 700,000 gas pumps accept pay-at-the-pump and not one of those pumps is secure against skimming.
Skimming occurs in bursts, says Mike Urban, senior director of fraud solutions at Fair Isaac Corp., the company behind the FICO credit score. “These are periods of time during which criminals try to compromise several terminals, then they start using the card information.” The Secret Service estimates there is $1 Billion a year lost to skimming.
It is not always possible to prevent credit card fraud from happening. But there are a few steps you can take to make it more difficult for a crook to capture your card or card numbers and minimize the possibility.
Here are some ways to protect yourself from this crime.
Skimming at ATM machines
Be familiar with and develop a routine when using a local ATM. Look around for odd mirrors or signs that could be hiding a pinhole camera. If you frequent the same ATM, you will be more aware if something is tampered with.
Jiggle that card slot holder to see if it’s loose or comes off.
Use one hand to cover the other hand when entering your pin # that way the camera can’t record your number.
Make sure the security cameras are trained on the ATM. Any motion-sensing activation can be coordinated with the ATM’s camera to see if the person had a legitimate reason for being there.
Try to frequent inside ATMs instead of stand-alone outside machines. There are less likely to be tampered with. Employees and customers are more likely to notice thieves or skimmers.
Skimming at Gas Station pumps
Go in the store to process transactions and sign all credit card receipts.
Choose a gas station that is “open” with an attendant. Even though the gas pumps work for pay-at-the-pump, skimmers are more likely to be used where no one is watching.
Basic Tips to avoid being a victim of Identity Theft
Use Cash. If the thief doesn’t have access to your card, they cannot skim it.
Keep an eye on your debit/credit card anyplace where the physical card is handled, such as Restaurants, Bars, Retail Counters. This may be hard to do but try to watch your card when the clerk or waiter takes it. This is so easy for staff to secretly scan your card because you don’t even think about giving up your card to them.
Keep all your receipts, even the ones from the gas pump.
Budget your time to check your credit card and bank statements against your receipts. Question anything, no matter how small, that does not match up. Some thieves take out small amounts in hopes cardholders won’t notice.
A number of credit card companies now offer features such as email or mobile phone notification for any charges made.
Finally
John Brewer, assistant district attorney in the major fraud division of Harris County Texas, regularly prosecutes identity thieves. “Many consumers think that shopping online is a high-risk endeavor compared to going to a brick and mortar store, but I believe the opposite,” Brewer says. “The vast majority of cases we investigate have to do with employees at a physical store stealing your information.”
