Credit card fraud is now a topic that most of us are unfortunately familiar with. I would even venture to guess that just about every person reading this post has at one point or another received a call from their bank or credit card company saying that there has been suspicious activity on their card. While Norris Inc. is a commercial systems integrator of security, life safety, and communications technologies, we are committed to using this blog as a forum for sharing information that can benefit the lives of our readers, whether in respect to their businesses, organizations, or personal lives. So due to a number of troubling local incidents, today we want share some information regarding card skimming, a lesser known method of stealing credit card information that is on the rise.

Credit card skimming occurs when criminals attach a small plastic molded device over a debit or credit card reader. The inserted card will then first pass through the skimming device, which captures and stores the information from the card’s magnetic strip, before the legitimate transaction takes place. While the incidence of skimming in general is on the rise, it is most problematic at ATMs and gas stations. The device is easy to attach and remove, so application and retrieval often goes unnoticed. Fortunately, there are ways that you can help to protect yourself, and your money, at both places.

At the ATM

Just yesterday, Maine’s WCSH 6 News published an article stating that drive through ATMs at three Maine banks were targeted by thieves with credit card skimmers. Luckily these banks utilized a high number of physical security methods, including employee visual inspection, and the skimming devices were more likely to be caught quickly. With this in mind, following these tips may help you avoid having your card’s information stolen at the ATM:

  • When possible, try to use an ATM located at a bank, inside the vestibule. There is a much higher incidence of credit card skimmers being found on ATMs on sidewalks or in gas stations and convenience stores due to less vigilant security protocols.
  • If a bank is not an option, try to get cash back at a store instead of taking cash out of the ATM.
  • Pay attention to signs of tampering. We are often on autopilot when using an ATM, but take the time to see if anything looks suspicious. Sometimes thieves will use a camera or false keypad overlay in order to also extract your pin number.
  • Push/pull on the card reader and keypad. Those installed by the banking institution should be very securely attached, while skimming devices are set up for easy installation and removal.
  • Wiggle your card a bit as you slide it into the card reader. While skimming devices need a smooth, single-motion swipe in order to read the data on your card, the bank’s card reader does not in order to complete your transaction.
  • Data shows that ATM transactions on the weekends are at a higher risk of skimming because criminals know that it will take longer for any suspicious activity to be reported and investigated while the banks are closed.

At the Gas Pump

I was recently told by an acquaintance that they had just been a victim of credit card fraud, and the breached card was one that they only use for purchasing gas. This lead them to believe that they were a victim of card skimming at the gas pump, which is even easier for crooks to set up and get away with than at an ATM. While you can avoid the risk entirely if you pay for your purchase in cash (as long as you don’t take that cash out of the ATM inside the gas station), if you are going to pay with a credit card, you can decrease your risk by:

  • Using one of the pumps closest to the building and in the line of sight of the attendant. Crooks often target the pumps on the far side of the station, particularly those that face away from the attendant, due to the reduced risk of being caught while tampering with them.
  • If you can make the time, pay inside instead of at the pump (that old convenience vs. security conundrum!).
  • If paying at the pump, use a credit card and not a debit card, that way your money is protected.
  • Gas pumps have prominent seals applied by state inspectors who ensure that they are accurate, a broken or missing seal is a giant red flag for potential scammer tampering.
  • As with ATMs, make sure that nothing feels off about the card reader or pin pad, and if it does choose another pump.

While being aware of the risks and signs of card skimming can help you significantly decrease the odds of becoming a victim, it is equally important to keep a watchful eye on your accounts and scan for fraudulent charges frequently. Additionally, should you have a business or organization where “self-service” credit or debit card transactions are used and be interested in additional physical security measures that can help you to protect your patrons, we can certainly help with that.

 

 

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