With the global prominence of
ATM machines and the easy access
to local currency that they offer travelers,
the risks of
credit card processing
and unnoticed ATM fraud are more troublesome than ever.
One of the most popular and effective ATM scams is called an ATM skimmer.
Fortunately, banks and ATM service providers are taking steps to help
people avoid being the victim of this scam, and there are several ways
to effectively identify an ATM scanner and avoid being scammed.
ATM skimmers are usually modification devices secretly installed over
the card slot of an ATM by thieves, which then read ATM card information.
Coupled with a hidden camera that captures the associated PIN, a skimmer
allows thieves to reproduce the card and use it at will. These have become
more common in recent years because of increased availability of blank magnetic
strip cards that thieves can use with the stolen card information to make
a working copy of a credit card.
To decrease the effectiveness of this technique, many banks
now put a picture or diagram on the face of their ATM machines
that shows exactly what the card slot and key pad should look like,
and advises customers to compare the machine with the diagram closely.
The goal is to help card holders spot signs of tampering so they can
avoid being scammed and contact the bank or ATM issuer to have it repaired.
Of course, not all ATMs have this diagram, especially those installed
by third parties in private businesses.
For this reason, it is very important to inspect
any ATM before inserting your card or entering your
pin to look for signs of skimmers. Card skimmers always place
a piece of metal or plastic directly over the card slot.
If you are using an unfamiliar ATM, check the card slot
thoroughly to see if it looks like an extra piece is affixed.
If you have used it before, just look for signs that the machine is
different than the last time. A few other tip offs are if there is
no blinking light visible on the card slot, or if one piece of the
ATM front looks out of sync with the color and design of the rest
of the unit. Also, because your PIN is still required, if you cover
the keypad completely with one hand while entering the PIN with the other,
no camera will be able to record it.
By following these simple guidelines and taking proactive
steps, it is possible to spot ATM skimmers and keep
personal data safe even while travelling the world.