The Art of Credit Card Skimming

In the ongoing battle against identity and credit card theft, the best defense for consumers is awareness - staying in the know about how scam artists get away with the latest tricks. One such way credit thieves can steal from us is through a process called card skimming.

What Is Skimming?
Skimming is a way of stealing credit card and personal information by picking up forgotten receipts or by employing more high-tech hand skimming devices.  Most of the time, it’s the people that you think you can trust at the stores you shop at that are the most likely culprits. Retail clerks, waiters, and other people who handle your credit card directly can easily run your card through a skimming device before processing your real transaction. All of the information that is contained in the magnetic strip on the back of a card is sent electronically. This method allows thieves to steal all of your credit card information with just one swipe of the card. Those who directly handle your cards are also capable of writing down your credit card information, including the security code and expiration date, all the pertinent information one needs to make a credit card purchase online or over the phone. Sadly, some of the more technology-minded thieves have been known to tamper with equipment which the public at large uses, including ATM’s, gas pumps, or other service equipment that allows consumers to swipe their credit card.

People in general are highly vulnerable to credit card scams and often even the simplest invasions can be very difficult to spot. Think about how many times you are checking out at the supermarket and the person behind you in line is hovering close as you enter you PIN number. Good scam artists are adept at figuring out what buttons are being pressed. It is these small things that are often overlooked in favor of the more technologically-savvy criminal innovations in theft.

How You Can Stop It
Being proactive about protecting your information is key. You should always make sure your credit card is never out of your line of vision. Keep your eyes on how your card is being swiped. Make sure when you use an ATM that it’s in a secure location and monitored by security cameras. While many devices can easily be overlooked, you can still make a concerted effort to see if the ATM machine has been modified in any way. Unfortunately, in this day and age it is not wise to accept help from strangers, especially when you are having problems at an ATM or a gas pump. Never give anyone your credit card or allow them to swipe the card on your behalf. You never know how people are setting up unsuspecting victims. The most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to access your credit card statement each and every month to check for mistakes or fraudulent charges. Keep in mind that many thieves will not charge big ticket items. It is too easy to get caught. Instead, they will do a series of smaller charges that a card holder who isn’t checking their statements closely will likely miss, allowing the theft to go on for a while. If you should come across information that proves your credit card has been compromised, contact your credit card company immediately and follow the appropriate steps to rectify the situation. The faster you recognize the con, the faster you can clear up the improper and fraudulent charges.

Related Posts:

• Canada Facing Trouble with Card Skimming - I don’t know how many of you have been keeping up with the news out of Canada lately, but they sure have had...
• Credit Card Skimming and Unsuspecting Diners - I came across yet another news story about credit card skimming and the horrors of unsuspecting diners that have had their credit...
• 13 Arrested in Restaurant Skimming Scam - 13 waiters were indicted on April 20th for skimming credit card information from their patrons. The crime ring covered more than 40...
• Protect Your Card from Skimming - I read this story awhile back about several women in Houston who accused a waitress of stealing their credit card information. The...

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 9:21 am and is filed under Card Security, Tips & Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.