ATM Card Skimming: How to Spot It and Stay Safe

ATM card skimming is the theft of your card data at the machine itself. A thief fits a small device over the card slot. It copies the magnetic stripe as you insert your card. Often a hidden camera or a fake keypad records your PIN as well. This note shows what to look for and what to do first.

How skimming works

A skimmer is a card reader that does not belong to the bank. It sits on top of the real slot. Your card passes through it on the way into the machine, so the machine still works and you notice nothing.

The copied data goes onto a blank card. The thief also needs your PIN. To get it, the gang may hide a tiny camera near the keypad, or place a thin false keypad over the real one that records each key you press.

Wikipedia describes this method as used in many parts of the world, including South America. The same kind of equipment can be fitted to any machine, so check before you use one, wherever you are.

Source: Wikipedia, "Credit card fraud" (revision of 6 February 2014, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=594285669).

Signs of a tampered ATM

Look at the card slot first. Does it stick out more than normal? Does it look loose, crooked or a different color from the rest of the machine? Wiggle it gently. A real slot is firmly fixed and does not move.

Next, look at the keypad. A false keypad often feels thick or spongy. It may sit higher than the screen surround suggests. Compare it with a nearby machine of the same type if there is one.

Then look above and beside the screen for a small hole, a leaflet holder or a strip of plastic that seems out of place. A pinhole camera can hide there. Glue marks, tape and scratches around any part are also warning signs.

If something looks wrong, do not use the machine.

Source: Wikipedia, "Credit card fraud" (revision of 6 February 2014, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=594285669).

Habits that protect your PIN

Cover the keypad with your free hand every time. This blocks a hidden camera and any person standing behind you. Make it automatic, even when the street is empty.

Prefer machines inside a bank branch, or in a well lit place with staff nearby. A machine inside a branch is checked more often than one on a quiet corner.

Never accept help from a stranger at the machine. Do not let anyone take your card, even to try to free it. If the card is stuck, step away and call the bank yourself.

Do not share your PIN with anyone, and never write it on the card or keep it in the same wallet. Choose a PIN that is not your birth date.

Source: Wikipedia, "Credit card fraud" (revision of 6 February 2014, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=594285669).

Check your account often

Stolen card data can be held by a thief for weeks or months before it is used, so you may not see a problem right away. Checking your account often is the best defense.

Read your statement as soon as it arrives. Check small amounts as well as large ones. If your bank offers text message alerts for withdrawals, switch them on.

Keep a note of your card number and the bank phone number somewhere safe, apart from the card. That way you can act fast even if your wallet is gone.

Source: Wikipedia, "Credit card fraud" (revision of 6 February 2014, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=594285669).

What to do if you suspect a problem

First, do not use the machine again. Step away, and if it is inside a branch, tell a staff member at once. If it is outside, tell the bank that owns the machine. Do not try to pull parts off the machine yourself.

Second, if you already used your card there, call your bank. Look for your bank's phone number on your card or statement. Ask them to block the card and issue a new one.

Third, ask the bank to list recent withdrawals and mark any you did not make. Make the report as soon as you notice, because banks may set time limits for reporting. Ask what proof they need and keep a note of the date, time and name of the person you spoke to.

Fourth, if money is missing, make a written complaint to the bank and ask for a reply in writing. If the machine looked tampered with, tell the local police as well, and give the exact address and time of your visit so the device can be found.

This is general information, not legal advice. Each bank sets its own rules for refunds, so ask yours what applies to your card.

Source: Wikipedia, "Credit card fraud" (revision of 6 February 2014). Your bank's own terms set the refund rules.

Quick checklist

• Check the card slot and keypad for loose, thick or odd parts.
• Cover the keypad with your hand.
• Use machines inside bank branches when you can.
• Refuse help from strangers.
• Read your statements and turn on alerts.
• Call the hotline on your card the moment something looks wrong.

Sources

• Wikipedia, "Credit card fraud," revision of 6 February 2014 (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=594285669)