Tips to Avoid Card Skimming De

Tips to Avoid Card Skimming

Debit and credit card skimming is on the rise, and not just via ATMs. Criminals are creatively subverting other self-service devices. Of all the ways to get a person’s banking credentials, the simplest is to copy the digital information on the card’s magnetic stripe and obtain the PIN when a debit card is used.

Why is that? First, there is minimal contact with the victim. Second, debit and credit cards have what’s called the Card Verification Value (CVV) or the Card Verification Data (CVD). The CVV/CVD is a security code generated by the issuing bank and stored on the magnetic stripe. This means the card owner has no idea what the code is, so the only way to obtain that information is to copy all the data on the magnetic stripe.

Here are a couple tips that can help to avoid your card being skimmed:

1: Be familiar with the ATM’s physical construction
Try to use the same ATM’s unless absolutely necessary. This way, you will be familiar with how it looks and can tell if something is out of place.

2: Opt for inside ATMs
Inside ATMs are less likely to have installed skimmers because it takes some work for fraudsters to set up an ATM for skimming, which can draw attention.

3: When it comes to self-service, look for operations that are always open
Surprisingly, installing skimmers in gas pumps is not that difficult. Having people or employees around all the time is a deterrent. Criminals would rather install skimmers in gas pumps of closed service stations.

4: Keep an eye on your debit/credit card when others have it
It may be hard to do, but try to keep an eye on your debit/credit card when the clerk or waiter takes it. Hand skimmers steal the same information as ATM skimmers.

Be cautious about anything out of the ordinary!