Monday, 14 April 2014

How to Avoid Credit Card Skimming

How to Avoid Credit Card Skimming

Your credit card is precious to you so you will very rarely let anyone else touch it so then how it is possible for people to get your credit card details. Thieves use a device called a Credit Card Skimmer.

keypad skimmerA credit card skimmer is a portable device that is able to capture card data.

The credit card skimmer is attached to the front of or on top of a legitimate scanner.

These credit card skimmers will often be placed on a device at a petrol station, at ATMs or other terminals that offer convenient self-service point of sale terminals.

Skimmer technology like most other technology has advanced over the years. There are skimmers that are able to capture your card information and a small camera will record you typing in your pin,

pos skimmerThere are also some that will place a second keypad over the actual keypad which will then capture your pin number.

The other side of skimming is actually at point of sale terminals which are actually conducted by employees who use hand held skimmers or fraudsters who swap the actual POS device for one that have been tampered with to skim and transmit the data from the card.

As the technology improves you need to know how you are able to avoid credit card skimmers.

How Can You Detect and Avoid Being the Victim of Credit Card Skimming?

Inspect the Card Reader and PIN Pad

Banks and merchants are aware of the skimming scams so they may have a picture of what the device that you are using should look like so that you are able to identify any changes.

You can also educate yourself as to what skimmer devices look like so you know what you are looking for.

As skimmers are only temporary have a look at the device and if it doesn’t look like it matches the machine in terms of colour and style then you might be looking at a skimmer.

Machines like those from SureSwipe will show you how each of your devices should look as a merchant and how they work so as a merchant you can also spot skimmers if the point of sales is not fixed. They also offer support if you are a victim of fraud.

Look Around

You should look at the other devices that are near to the one that you are using to see if they are the same. It is rare that skimmers are skimming all the devices around you and will generally just target the one device.

Trust Your Gut

We will actually be able to notice when something is out of place instinctively. If you sense something is off about the credit machine you are using then rather use a different one.

Check Your Accounts

If you are worried that your card has been skimmed then you need keep your eye on your account balance.

If you notice anything that is off then you should report it to your bank immediately.

ATM-Skimming-lg

In order to avoid credit card skimmers you just need to be aware. If you notice anything wrong on the device that you intend to use then avoid the machine altogether instead of taking a chance.

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