If you think about the amount of important personal information you have floating around in the digital ether, it could be enough to cause an anxiety attack. Unfortunately, each time you pull cash out of an ATM or use your credit card to shop online, you are susceptible to theft.
However, if you do your research and learn the warning signs of specific scams, you can save yourself a lot of heartache -- and money.
ATM skimming is when scammers install third-party card readers on gas station pumps or other points of sale to capture your credit or debit card data from the magnetic strip on the back. Then they use the data to make counterfeit cards and rack up charges on your accounts until you or your bank notice and cut them off.
Gas stations are popular targets for credit card skimming devices, as criminals can easily compromise a gas pump card reader with a skimmer placed inside or out. They also place card-skimming devices on ATMs.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends some best practices for gas stations to keep their pumps safe from card skimming devices, including daily card reader inspections and the use of security seals. Crooks sometimes use fake security tape, so stations should also track the seals' security numbers to make sure they're the same seals that were originally placed.
Ask your local gas stations what they do for skimming device detection, and only patronize stations that know how to spot card skimmers. Do your due diligence, too -- know how to spot a credit card skimmer, or at least the signs that might indicate one is in place.
- Security tape that shows "void" or looks like it has been tampered with - A gas pump card reader or PIN entry pad that isn't flush with the pump's door panel - A gas pump card reader that wiggles when you pull on it - A PIN pad that feels thicker than usual or that has buttons that are difficult to press
1. Use Credit Rather Than Debit
2. Use a Credit Card With a Chip
3. Pay for Your Fuel Inside the Gas Station
4. Beware of Non-Bank ATMs
5. Avoid Using Your Card in Secluded Areas
6. Use a Skimmer Scanning App
7. Use Your Phone to Detect a Bluetooth Connection
If you see something close by attempting to connect via Bluetooth, this could be an indication of an ATM skimmer trying to get your information.