What is skimming?
Skimming takes place when criminals copy information contained on your bank card's magnetic stripe and use it for unauthorized purchases, to make illegal cash withdrawals, or in the production of counterfeit cards.
How does it happen? A legitimate electronic card reader, or "skimmer", is used with cash registers and/or credit card machines to gather the information that is encoded in the magnetic stripe. This may include the cardholder's name, address, telephone number, card number, credit limit, and PIN number.
When does skimming happen? There are generally three places your confidential information can become compromised:
1. At the merchant location itself, fraudulent skimmers (roughly the size of an electronic pager) can be connected to any phone line between the phone jack and the credit card machine itself. When a consumer makes a credit card purchase, the card is swiped and the second electronic skimmer captures and stores the information, which can then be manipulated for a variety of illegal purposes.
2."Ghost Terminals" are created by criminals that attach fake touch pad screens and key pads over legitimate card readers and key pads on ATM machines. Users get an error message on the fake screen indicating that the ATM is "out of service", but the skimmer has already read and stored the card's information.
3. Another common scenario is one in which a second skimming device is kept near the legitimate card scanning device in a store, or a portable device is carried in the pocket of a retail clerk. The card is swiped twice: once through the legitimate machine, and once through the second device for the purpose of stealing the magnetic stripe information.
Protect yourself by being aware! Keep an eye on your credit card when you hand it over for payment. Pay attention to the look of your favorite ATM machine. Has it changed? Check your receipts against your statements every month. Does everything match up? If you find an unfamiliar transaction, report the crime to the police and your financial institution! Finally, monitor your credit.
How does it happen? A legitimate electronic card reader, or "skimmer", is used with cash registers and/or credit card machines to gather the information that is encoded in the magnetic stripe. This may include the cardholder's name, address, telephone number, card number, credit limit, and PIN number.
When does skimming happen? There are generally three places your confidential information can become compromised:
1. At the merchant location itself, fraudulent skimmers (roughly the size of an electronic pager) can be connected to any phone line between the phone jack and the credit card machine itself. When a consumer makes a credit card purchase, the card is swiped and the second electronic skimmer captures and stores the information, which can then be manipulated for a variety of illegal purposes.
2."Ghost Terminals" are created by criminals that attach fake touch pad screens and key pads over legitimate card readers and key pads on ATM machines. Users get an error message on the fake screen indicating that the ATM is "out of service", but the skimmer has already read and stored the card's information.
3. Another common scenario is one in which a second skimming device is kept near the legitimate card scanning device in a store, or a portable device is carried in the pocket of a retail clerk. The card is swiped twice: once through the legitimate machine, and once through the second device for the purpose of stealing the magnetic stripe information.
Protect yourself by being aware! Keep an eye on your credit card when you hand it over for payment. Pay attention to the look of your favorite ATM machine. Has it changed? Check your receipts against your statements every month. Does everything match up? If you find an unfamiliar transaction, report the crime to the police and your financial institution! Finally, monitor your credit.
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We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
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