Have you ever pumped gas into your car only to get home and receive alerts from your bank about erroneous charges? A credit card skimmer is a device that a thief or thieves can attach to an ATM, gas station pump, or any other type of card transaction machine in order to steal credit card information from patrons, according to Security National Bank. Thieves will typically return to the scene from time to time in order to retrieve their skimmers. Credit card skimmers are devices that criminals attach to ATMs, gas pumps, and any other payment terminals to steal your card's information.
Skimmers come in all shapes, sizes and varying degrees of complexity. Most of us are in a hurry when we fill our gas tanks. But if you remain vigilant and take some standard precautions, you'll be able to detect gas pump skimmers of all types, and stay safe at the pump.
This lockable door on the gas pump or ATM should be closed and securely fastened; many gas stations take the additional step of placing a tamper-resistant seal over the door. If the tamper-resistant seal is broken, do not use the gas pump, and tell an employee that the pump may not be safe to use. Try to wiggle the card slot. If it seems loose, or strangely bulkier than the other pumps at the same station, you may want to move along to another terminal.
Likewise, if the PIN pad seems obtrusively thick, or if it does not match the pads on other pumps, this is a clear sign that something is amiss. The skimmer on the left is loose if you wiggle it. The picture on the right is how the pump should look. Pictured above is an example of a well disguised skimming device. Note how bulky it is. High-tech data thieves sometimes use tiny cameras to obtain card information as you type it into the PIN pad.
Be on the lookout for tiny pinhole cameras, or phony screen shades attached above the screen display that may conceal a hidden camera. A scammer's camera is cleverly hidden in the gray casing.
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The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. Credit cards have come a long way to become more secure by adding chips and biometric security measures. However, identity thieves seem to be moving at the same pace when it comes to learning how to steal data. They are devices that allow us to swipe, tap, or insert our credit cards for fast, convenient payment. It may contain a stealth camera that records your pin as you enter it.
Or, in the case of most gas pump skimmers, it may contain a data collecting device that stores and transmits your card data to an identity thief.
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