A consumer alert about debit and credit card skimming was recently issued in response to increased reports about this crime across the United States.
Card skimming is a crime that involves the, ‘skimming’ or stealing of information implanted in your card’s magnetic strip. This is accomplished when a criminal attaches a device at the mouth of a card-acceptance slot that records the data on your card as you slide it in. The criminal returns to the ATM or gas pump at a later time to collect the device containing all of the stolen account information.
According to a recent article in Shop Smart Magazine, this scam is becoming even more sophisticated. The article quotes Brian Krebs, a computer security expert who says that criminals no longer have to return in person to collect the device and that the information can be sent to them wirelessly via text message.
“Paying for gas using a card and using ATMs are such common transactions. With this crime increasing and becoming more refined, consumers need to be very cautious when making these transactions and extremely vigilant of their accounts,” says Jim Hegarty, BBB president and CEO.
The BBB offers the following tips when using ATMs or paying for gas by card:
· Use your credit card at the gas pump instead of your debit card. This way, if you become victimized you haven’t lost the money directly. You can contact your credit card company and they will get the fraudulent charges removed. If money is stolen directly from your bank account, this could have much worse consequences for you and getting the money replaced could take quite some time.
· Avoid using ATMs that are not located at a bank. These ATMs are often less secure so thieves have more opportunity to tamper with them.
· Look closely at the machine you are putting your card into. If it appears compromised in any way, (i.e. plastic sticking out, anything out of the ordinary attached) do not use it.
· If your card gets stuck in machine, do not leave the area. Call your bank right away and report the issue.
· Monitor your accounts daily for any fraudulent activity. The sooner you detect fraud, the better off you will be at resolving it quickly and keeping it from continuing.