Skimming: How criminals can steal your bank card information in seconds.

Bank card skimming is just one of the ways that criminals are illegally collecting, storing and using bank card data to steal a victim’s money as well as their identity.

This crime is committed through the use of “skimming” equipment. The equipment is used to duplicate a bank card’s information straight from the magnetic strip located on the back of the card. Once the information has been stolen, it can then be placed onto a blank card that the criminal will use to perform illegal transactions.

Once criminals have skimmed the person’s information from their card, the thieves are then able to steal the victim’s identity and spend all of the hard earned money as if it were theirs.

If you are thinking, “Oh well, I guess that could only happen to me if I were to misplace my bank card or if someone was to steal it from my possession, which could never happen because I am so protective over my bank card”.

I am sorry to say that if this is what you were thinking, you would be incorrect.

Bank card skimming equipment is attached to the ATM itself which means that as you are performing your transaction, the data is getting sent straight to the thief. Other skimmers, can be held as portable devices and can be used by waitrons, cashiers and anyone who comes into contact with your card.

The reason this crime is effective for criminals is because as technology keeps evolving, the cost of such equipment decreases while the widespread availability increases.

A lot of us work very hard to receive our salaries, while others (AKA. the criminals) feel like they have the right to go around skimming bank card data, stealing identities and then proceeding to go on shopping sprees with money that isn’t theirs.

It’s just not on.

There is only so much one can do to prevent having their bank card skimmed so, here are some tips on what you can do to avoid it happening to you.

6 Tips to avoid bank card skimming:

1. Check to see if the ATM keypad is securely attached to the ATM itself and not just lightly stuck on. If it is a little bit loose, it could be a skimming device. If it is a skimming keypad, when you click down on each digit of your PIN, the information is being stored and sent through to the skimmer.
2. If something doesn’t seem right with the ATM such as a blinking light you are not used to seeing, immediately cancel your transaction and use a different ATM.
3. Always cover the keypad to block potential hidden cameras before entering a PIN
4. If you are a person who tends to not keep cash in your wallet for safety purposes (such as myself), try and pre-plan trips to the ATM so that you can make use of the machines located inside of a banking branch
5. Alternatively, don’t use ATM’s you are unfamiliar with. If a scammer attaches a card skimming device to a machine you are familiar with, you will stand more of a chance of noticing that something seems fishy than if you were using an ATM completely unbeknownst to you.
6. If you don’t already do this, keep a close eye on your account through checking your online bank statements to ensure there are no suspicious charges.