Card Skimming-Skimming Away Money & Identities
A more ‘direct’ form of phishing has come to the fore in the form of card skimming. Card skimming basically implies illegal copying of information and codes from the magnetic strip of an ATM card.
Once an ATM card is has been skimmed, the information collected can be used to create a fake card or a cloned card with the same details as the original card. This fake card is now as good as the original one and will serve all the purposes which the original card was meant for.
Yet another deadlier side to card skimming is the possibility of identity theft. Since all the information is already with the scammer, they can easily use such details to commit identity fraud.
ATM scams in large numbers are giving sleepless nights to authorities in Sydney, Australia. A gang comprising mainly of Romanian nations has been carrying out numerous such card skimming scams in Australia. Close to $1 million have already been lost to these card skimming gang.
Curbing such card skimming activities is not the sole responsibility of the authorities, every card holder should be vigilant and responsible enough to take care of his/her ATM card. A complete information about the possible steps one could take to avoid such fraud and the course of action if at all one realizes that such an eventuality has taken place, will definitely go a long way. Some of the steps to avoid card skimming and the damage control measure are mentioned:
Avoiding card skimming:
While making payment through your card do not let the shop assistant to take your card out of sight.
Swiping a card for a single purchase more than once should be questioned.
Noticing something unusual about the ATM machine (attachment or device)
Your credit card statement has unusual transactions.
Avoid writing down PIN numbers and carrying them with you.
Change your PIN number regularly.
The above steps may be enough to ensure safety of your ATM card, still if one notices unauthorized transactions in the card statement one should immediately call up the card company and discontinue use of that card.
Related posts:
- Case of Card Skimming reported in Missouri
- Beware of New Phone Scam : Credit Union
- Card Skimming Alert for Pierce County and Nearby Residents
- Shoppers in Ireland tipped of Card Skimming Scam
- Preventing Consumer Fraud & Identity Theft
