Luckily, that was significantly less than the previous jump of nearly 70 percent in 2016 - much of which was the result of a significant influx of skimmer attacks on ATMs at convenience stores. According to data from FICO, ATM compromises were up by 8 percent in 2017, a small but still noteworthy increase. That means you're most likely to run into them at a pump at the gas station or at an ATM. While skimmers can be used on basically any credit card reader, they are typically placed on ones that aren't regularly monitored. Where are credit card skimmers usually located? Even if your card has an EMV chip, as most do now, the stripe still contains your information in order to remain compatible with older systems, per PCMag. That gives a thief all the information they need to rack up some charges on your behalf or withdraw money from your account at an ATM. Some skimmers are paired with hidden cameras or overlaid keyboards that are used to intercept your PIN by capturing your keystrokes, according to LifeLock. That's typically enough to process transactions on less-secure online retailers or to create a counterfeit credit card that can be used to make purchases to your account. That stripe contains your credit card number, expiration date and your full name. It uses a magnetic strip reader to extract card data from the stripe on the back of your card. When you insert your card into a machine that has a skimmer attached to it, the skimmer reads the card first. Skimmers almost always sit atop existing credit card scanners to intercept or skim your card information before it reaches the machine. In a report from, David Tente, the executive director of the ATM Industry Association, said that modern skimmers "are almost impossible to see, even if you know what you're looking for." How does credit card skimming work? Security expert Brian Krebs highlighted a number of skimmer devices, which, if you aren't specifically looking for them, appear to simply be a part of a card reader that you've interacted with hundreds if not thousands of times. Some are somewhat bulky, though don't particularly stand out if you don't know what you're looking for. ![]() They often look nearly identical to an actual credit card terminal and function similarly as well, acting as a simple magnetic strip reader. What is a credit card skimmer?Ī credit card skimmer is a small, electronic device that can steal your card information. Luckily, if you know what to look for and have the right tools, you can identify a skimmer before its too late and can protect your credit. ![]() Perhaps the scariest part of card skimmers is that if you don't know how to spot them, they can hijack your information while you're completing what seems like a completely normal transaction at the ATM or gas pump. Wondering why there are charges showing up on your credit card for purchases you never made? You may have fallen victim to a credit card skimmer, a relatively common tool used by scammers to steal your card information without your knowledge.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |