Beware of card skimmers
2009-06-11
BANKS are once again warning their customers against card skimming which results in unsuspecting customers being left out-of-pocket. The modus operandi for card skimmers involves the placing of sophisticated skimming devices over ATM card reader slots, which enables the capture of data encoded on the card’s magnetic strip. It happens through peering over the victim’s shoulder to obtain the PIN number. With that information the syndicates create a duplicate card and empty the victim’s account. In some instances syndicates choose a site with two ATMs and jam one of the machines to block the insertion of the card. While a customer struggles to insert the card, a syndicate member will offer to help. A victim will then be persuaded to hand the card over to the helper – a syndicate member, who offers to see if it will work in the other ATM, a trick that allows the thief to scan the targeted card with a skimming device hidden in his hand. Once read the card is inserted into the ATM, the victim is asked to enter the PIN. The card-holder remains blissfully unaware that a crime has been committed, often until it is too late. If you think there might be something wrong with an ATM, or have difficulty inserting your card or find strange-looking objects attached to the ATM, do not use the machine. Never allow strangers at an ATM to assist you with your banking. Never let anyone know the PIN you are using for your bank card or password you are using for Internet banking. This includes not giving your PIN to a bank employee. Never write it down.
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