STAYING SAFE — “America’s Crime Prevention Column”
with
Bruce Mandelblit
These days the Automatic Teller Machine, better known as the ATM, has become a ubiquitous part of modern commerce. Not only are ATMs located at banks, more and more businesses, especially retailers, have ATMs installed on their property for both the convenience of the customer and as a new revenue stream.
It appears that the corrupt minds of unscrupulous criminals continue to work overtime. Here is a fresh swindle that is quickly making its way across America, and other countries with reported incidents in Canada and Australia, that every person needs to be aware of.
Your greatest crime risk, until now, when using an ATM was to be a victim of an armed robbery or somebody trying to “shoulder surf” your ATM card’s PIN.
But wait!
According to a news release by the Florida Department of Banking and Finance, a partially sneaky, yet sophisticated scam has been documented. It is called “ATM skimming.”
In this ingenious rip-off, lawbreakers are taking advantage of technology to make counterfeit ATM cards by using a “skimmer.” A skimmer is merely a card swipe device that reads the information on a consumer’s ATM card.
Criminals create a magnetic stripe reader that fits neatly and unobtrusively directly over the magnetic stripe reader on the ATM, and the person making a withdrawal is often none the wiser.
The thief can also capture the customer’s PIN number with a small camera mounted in the skimmer itself or at another location near the ATM.
Since the ATM works normally – the skimmer is reading your card, and allowing your transaction at the same time – the victim is unaware that they just given a criminal the “keys” to their bank account.
According to law enforcement officials, these skimming rings will often send their stolen ATM data to remote locations, including overseas, where factories are ready to manufacture sham debit and credit cards.
It is estimated that nationwide, ATM skimming has resulted in monetary losses in the millions of dollars; however this is just the very tip of the iceberg. Skimming has risen substantially, and these high-tech bandits are fast gaining in their technical finesse, including purchasing their own ATM machines to capture your personal banking data.
Here are some consumer tips to help reduce the opportunity that these crooked criminals will skim their ATM card:
1. Be wary of anything about the ATM machine that looks out of the ordinary, such as odd-looking equipment or wire attached to the device.
2. Be wary of a “no tampering” sign. These are often placed by crooks to thwart anyone curious about a new piece of equipment.
3. Be wary of a jammed ATM machine that forces customers to use another ATM that has a skimmer attached.
4. Customers should also check their bank accounts regularly to make sure there are no unusual or unauthorized transactions. Federal law limits loss from ATM fraud, and many banks offer additional protection. Consumers should check with their financial institution for details.
5. If you see anything unusual or suspicious around an ATM, or if you find unauthorized ATM transactions on your bank account, notify local law enforcement, as well as your financial institution and/or the establishment where the ATM is located.
6. It is also a good idea to always protect your PIN including not giving the number to anyone and to cover the keypad while you are entering your PIN.
7. If possible, it is usually best to carry out your ATM transactions during the daylight hours as most ATM-related crimes happen after dark.
To help mitigate ATM skimming, an Electronics Funds Transfer Association Task Force has been established and will seek countermeasures to the rising use of skimming devices to steal money and information from ATM machine. This task force will work closely with law enforcement, including the U.S. Secret Service.
For more information on ATM skimming, log on to www.dbf.state.fl.us.
My Final Thoughts: From Illinois to Massachusetts and from Connecticut to Florida, and everywhere in-between, this devious scam is sweeping the country.
This is a heads-up for all Americans to be alert to this malicious and fashionable fraud of ATM skimming. It is an ironic twist that for these sophisticated outlaws, even more valuable than the ATM machine itself filled with stacks and stacks of cash, is stealing an individual’s personal bank information.
So, be alert and smart: If the ATM machine you are about to use doesn’t look right, just don’t use it!
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Copyright 2010 by Bruce Mandelblit
Bruce is a nationally known security and safety journalist, as well as a recently retired, highly decorated reserve law enforcement officer.
Bruce blogs on www.CrimeZilla.com.
This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.
The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.
