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ATM Skimming rising, again

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Do you know what ATM stands for? For crooks, it stands for A Thief’s Moneymaker.

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-identity-theft-red-words-binary-code-computer-monitor-image39907813A new report from FICO says that “skimming” crimes have made their biggest spike in the past 20 years. This includes ATMs on bank premises, but of course, public ATM kiosks have seen the biggest spike.

The thief tampers with the ATM’s card receiver; the installed gadget collects card data which the thief retrieves later. “Skimming,” as this is called, also refers to capturing the PIN via a hidden camera.

With the stolen data, thieves craft phony debit cards, which they then use at ATMs or for purchases. In seconds, your bank account could be sucked dry—poof!

ATM users normally do not know that a skimming device is in place; they just swipe their card. The thief will come back to collect the skimmed data (likely in the middle of the night).

  • He downloads your data.
  • He burns it to a blank ATM card.
  • He drains your bank account first chance he gets or goes on a wild shopping spree.
  • All of this can happen within minutes to hours.
  • The hidden camera may be concealed by a brochure slot near the machine—placed there by the crook himself—with bank brochures he got from inside the bank.
  • The camera may be hidden in a nearby lighting fixture or even attached somewhere on the ATM.

Prevent Getting Skimmed

  • Use only ATMs inside banks if possible. The riskiest locations are restaurants, bars, nightclubs and public kiosks.
  • Regardless of ATM location, inspect the machine. A red flag is if the scanner’s colors don’t jibe with the rest of the machine.
  • Jiggle the card slot to see if it feels like something’s attached to it.
  • Inspect card slots at gas stations and other non-ATM devices that scan your debit card.
  • Look around for areas a camera might be hidden. Even if all seems clear, cover your hand when you enter the PIN.
  • Try to get away from using a debit card at all. At least with a credit card, you can dispute fraudulent charges before you lose any money (up to 60 days), but with a credit card, you have only a few days to do this.
  • Frequently check your bank and credit card statements.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to BestIDTheftCompanys.com discussing identity theft prevention. Disclosures.

What is ATM Skimming?

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Ever hear of a crime called skimming? It may not be as dramatic a crime as assault or Ponzi schemes, but it can cause significant problems to you as your  savings account can be wiped out in a flash.

4HPicture a scrawny nerd tampering with an automated teller machine (ATM)—the machine you use with your debit card to get cash. The thief places a device over the slot through which you slide your debit card. You have no idea it’s there. You swipe your card, and the device “skims” or reads your card’s information. In the middle of the night, the thief creeps back, removes the skimming device, downloads your data, burns it to a blank ATM card, makes a fat withdrawal and goes home with the loot. Or they could download your information from the skimmer and then use your information to make online purchases or access your account. Either way, they could clean you out before you wake up next morning!

Now, to be successful, the criminal not only needs a skimming device, they also need to attach a tiny wireless camera to capture your PIN.  These cameras are usually concealed in the lighting fixture above the keypad, in a brochure near the machine, or attached directly to the ATM.

To protect yourself from being skimmed, and generally staying safe when using your debit or credit cards, follow these tips:

  • Scrutinize the ATM. This means every ATM, even ones from your bank. You also want to check any of the card sliders like ones at gas stations, etc, especially if you’re using your debit card. If the scanner does not match the color and style of the machine, it might be a skimmer. You should also “shake”  the card scanner to see if it feels like there’s something  attached to the card reader on the ATM.
  • Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. In order to access your bank accounts, thieves need to have your card number and your PIN. By covering the keypad, you prevent cameras and onlookers from seeing your PIN.
  • Check your bank and credit card statements often. If someone does get your information, you have 60 days to report any fraudulent charges to your credit card company in order not to be charged. For a debit card, you only have about 2 days to report any suspicious activity.
  • Be choosy. Don’t use general ATMs at bars or restaurants. These are not usually monitored and therefore, can be easily tampered with by anyone.

Stay safe from skimming!

Robert Siciliano is an Online Security Expert to McAfee. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Mobile was Hacked!  Disclosures.

Protect your Cards from Multiple Kinds of Skimmers

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PIN may sometimes stand for pilfered identification number if a hacker gets yours. And it’s easier than ever for thieves to get your PIN from an ATM, coming up with clever ways to beat security technology.

2CThe “primitive” way to get your card number is to manually place a phony card reader over an ATM card reader and then come back to retrieve it. Now it’s being done wirelessly via Bluetooth and SMS tech built into the skimmer. Coupled with wireless cameras and keypad overlays, getting your PIN is easier than ever.

They’re also brazen enough to land jobs that will grant them ATM access; they then install malware that can transmit your PIN to their personal device. PIN hacking’s memory chips and transmitters are thinner and lighter these days, making them go undetected.

The crime of ATM skimming racks up $350,000 a day.

  • Wedge skimming. An employee runs a card through a card reader tool that transfers data from the card’s stripe. The crook downloads this to his device, then burns the data onto a phony card or uses the data to place online or phone orders.
  • Fake ATMs. The crook installs the phony machine in a place that will attract users like a saucer of honey will attract bees. The machine will read and copy tons of data.
  • ATM skimming. The thief fits a card reader onto an ATM or gas pump card reader. The very inconspicuous reader may have wireless technology. This crime often comes with installation of secret pinhole cameras nearby to capture the consumer’s PIN.
  • Data intercepting. A thief poses as a gas pump serviceman and unlocks it with special keys, then plants a device inside that reads all the customer cards’ unencrypted information.
  • Point of sale swapping. The skimming device is placed at the terminal where you make a purchase. Even busy places like McDonald’s have been targeted.

These smart criminals can copy skimmed credit card data on gift cards, blank cards, hotel cardkeys or white cards, the latter being quite useful at self-checkouts. Protection comes in the form of:

  • Anti-Skim Security built into the ATM from the factory or as an add-on solution, which is installed inside the machine
  • Checking your statements every day via a smartphone app or every week online or monthly via your paper statement for suspicious transactions
  • Challenging questionable transactions right away
  • When entering your PIN, conceal the keypad with your other hand
  • After handing an employee your card, keeping a close eye on it. Don’t let the employee leave your site with your card.

A crook (often a store employee in this case) can also nab your data with a handheld skimming device like the “wedge” listed above.

The Many Faces of Skimming

  • Remember, the phony skimming device that’s attached to the card reader goes undetected by the consumer, unless the consumer is well-versed in this kind of crime and knows what to look for.
  • The crooked employee gets your information, then sells it.
  • Thieves can now get the data via wireless technology like Bluetooth, eliminating the risk of getting caught at the machine.
  • Pinhole cameras can be placed anywhere close by, such as in a brochure holder.
  • A crook may place a data capturing device over the keyboard to get PINs.

Get familiar with the ATM you use—because you should be using the same one so that it will be easier to spot something different about it.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

ATM Scammers’ New Tactic: Glue

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You can almost hear the scammers’ “Eureka!” moment in their evil dungeon lair: “We don’t need no stinking $5000 high-tech remote access Russian-built skimmer – we just need Elmer’s!” And then a crime is committed and history is made.

The San Francisco Examiner reported, “thieves glued down the ‘enter,’ ‘cancel’ and ‘clear’ buttons on the keypad and wait until the customer goes into the bank for help before withdrawing money from their account. The robbed customers have already punched in their PINs when they realize the keypad buttons are stuck. The unwitting customers either do not know that they can use the ATM touch screen to finish their transaction, or become nervous when the keypad isn’t working and react by leaving the ATM.”

Once the customer has gone into the bank to alert a manager or teller, the scammer walks up to the ATM and uses the touch screen to complete the transaction.

Amazing. Even more amazing is that if a criminal were caught gluing ATM keys, he would most likely only receive a misdemeanor vandalism charge, as opposed to a larceny, which would put him in jail. The law has yet to catch up with this new and brilliantly simple crime.

So if you happen upon a glued ATM remember that you can finish your transaction using the touch screen. Once you’ve done so, alert the bank manager as soon as possible so nobody else gets scammed!

When using an ATM, pay close attention to the machine and be alert for anything that seems out of place. Wires, double sided tape, odd configurations or skimming devices on the face of the ATM, or a card that gets stuck in the reader are all red flags.

Don’t necessarily use the first ATM you see. Choose ATMs in secure locations, and be on your guard, even when using an ATM at a bank branch.

Above all, check your bank statements at least once every two weeks, and refute unauthorized transactions within 30 days.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussing ATM skimming on Extra TV. Disclosures.