A skimmer is a device that can be inserted into the card slot on an ATM. When you insert your debit card or credit card, the device reads and stores the data contained on the magnetic strip, including your name, card number and expiration date, as well as the encrypted verification code to your map. An identity thief will plant skimmers on ATMs and come back later to collect them. Then he or she can use the data collected to create perfect clones of cards, or just use the account numbers to make purchases on the Internet. Sometimes thieves skimmers plants also include a camera angle to record your PIN.
The Consumerist reports that three different ATM skimmers were discovered by customers of the bank last week, Chase and WaMu ATMs. The Consumerist offers some tips to make sure you're not distribute sensitive data on an identity thief, the next time you withdraw money. Look for these signs that identity thieves falsified ATM that you are about to use:
- Slots that do not match
- multiple mirrors - (and may be removed!) one might hide a camera that records your PIN
- ATM strange error messages
- the ATM is different from other ATMs around him
- Dummy brochure boxes with hidden cameras on them
to see the images of skimmers that have recently been found, click on the Consumerist post. And to learn about protective services against identity theft, will help prevent and detect these types of scams, see our reviews and comparison chart.