ATM Card Skimming and Protecting Your Information - Centricity Credit Union (2024)

FAQs

What to do if your ATM card is skimmed? ›

Report. If you think you've been a victim of skimming, contact your financial institution immediately.

Getting inside ATMs is difficult, so ATM skimmers sometimes fit over existing card readers. Most of the time, the attackers also place a hidden camera somewhere in the vicinity in order to record personal identification numbers, or PINs, used to access accounts.

What happens when your credit or debit card is skimmed? Tom Kellermann, senior vice president of cyber strategy at Contrast Security, says hackers use stolen data to rack up fraudulent charges online or over the phone, set up automatic payments, sell your data or create counterfeit cards.

Remember, skimmers need your PIN as well as your card number to access the funds and information on your card, so the best way to protect yourself is by not entering your PIN.

Does "tap to pay" prevent your card from being skimmed? Payment terminals with contactless technology that let you “tap to pay” prevent your card from being skimmed with a traditional card skimming device. However, scammers never seem to run out of new ways to steal your card data, so you should always stay vigilant.

By the Numbers: Skimming Statistics

3,000 unique financial institutions that were affected by a skimming attack in 2022². 368% - the increase in compromised cards from 2021 – 2022². 185+ number of cards per skimming attack in 2022².

What does a credit card skimmer look like? Credit card skimmers are designed to look like they're part of the POS system they're attached to. Some skimmers fit over the original card reader in the machine but may appear more bulky.

A skimmer is a device installed on card readers that collects card numbers. Thieves will later recover and use this information to make fraudulent purchases. Skimmers can usually be spotted by doing quick visual or physical inspections before swiping or inserting a card.

Are ATMs safe from skimmers? ›

Breaking into an ATM is no easy feat, so thieves typically put skimmers on top of the already-existing card reader. Even more disturbing, though, is that these thieves will also place a hidden camera somewhere near the keypad of the card reader so that they can capture PIN numbers.

Similarly to card skimming, card scanning is a type of payment card theft where the fraudster with a scanning device gets close enough to your bag or wallet to scan your card number. This type of fraud is enabled by the fact that today's payment cards typically work on Radio Identification Frequency (RFID) technology.

Skim Scan instantly detects hidden deep insert and overlay card skimmers in ATMs, gas pumps, kiosks, vending machines, smart meters and POS retail terminals. No hardware installation or modifications are required. Simply dip it in and pull it back out to determine if a card skimmer is present.

You can initiate a dispute to get your money back if it was an unauthorized transaction.

Does "tap to pay" prevent your card from being skimmed? Payment terminals with contactless technology that let you “tap to pay” prevent your card from being skimmed with a traditional card skimming device. However, scammers never seem to run out of new ways to steal your card data, so you should always stay vigilant.

Rubbing and Isopropyl Alcohol

Both types of alcohol can be used to clean your cards. Simply wet a cotton ball, tissue, paper towel, or soft cloth with the alcohol and wipe the card. To remove stubborn gunk trapped around the raised letters or digits of your card, try using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

Bank, debit, or credit card skimming can occur if you use an ATM with a card skimming device installed, pay for something on a dodgy website, swipe your card in the payment machine while making in-store purchases, or even while your cards are in your wallet.