Advancement in technology has proven to be good for all of us. Unfortunately, it has also paved way for plotting ways of obtaining the IDs and card information of consumers. Criminals have used the art of credit card skimming as a method to perfect their activities. You may not know it, but id thieves nowadays can strike harder and faster with their skims.

About card skimming

“Skimming” is a term used to define a criminal activity, in which the main goal is to obtain the data from a consumer’s credit card. The personal information is usually located on the magnetic strips of a card, and with the help of a skimming device, criminals can easily copy this to make fake accounts or fraudulent transactions under the poor victim’s name.

ATM, credit card and debit card skimming are some of the most common forms of skimming. Here’s how it works: The skimming device is attached, or “piggy-backed” on the original card reader of an ATM, so that the next one to use it will have his or her information obtained by the criminal. It is usually attached early morning or late night, because these are the time when the fewest people are using the machine.

Though it can be hard to detect sometimes, being a keen observer can help lessen your chances of becoming a skimming victim. Before swiping your card on any device or ATM, make sure to check the unit for any signs of tampering, such as unusual marks and scratches, and residues of tapes or adhesive where a skimming device is usually attached

Where can skimming usually be found?

Being aware of skimming tactics can help lessen your chances of becoming a fraud victim. Restaurants, ATM machines and gas stations are some of the common hotspots for skimmers, so here are some facts about these places.

• Gas stations— Take note that self-serve gas stations are a common place for skimming, because attendants don’t need to serve you for your pumping needs. This gives skimmers the chance to install their device on the swipe hardware.
  
  
• ATM skimming – ATMs, too, are constant targets of skimmers. The device is usually attached over the original card reader of the ATM machine. It looks similar to the original card reader, but it is usually just a piece of equipment fitted in place. Before the card is read by the machine, the information on your card’s magnetic strip is first transferred to the skimmer’s device. Similarly, ATM machines are a common target of skimmers because there are no attendants around the area, making the installation of the device easier and faster.
  
  
• Restaurants – Always be wary of waiters and cashier attendants. They could be potential skimmers, and they are usually the ones selling your information to these thieves. What dishonest service people sometimes do is swipe your credit cards twice: one swipe for your real credit card transaction and the other for the information-stealing device. Be carefully when waiters tell you that they have to re-swipe your card again, because there had been an “error” on the first transaction. This can be a sign that a skimming activity is happening right under your nose.

Amy is an active blogger who is fond of sharing interesting finance related articles to encourage people to manage and protect their finances. She also covers topics on how to prevent email scams as internet identity theft is now a favored method of scam by id thieves.