Credit and debit cards are now central to daily payments, but they remain vulnerable to fraud. Criminals have developed discreet tools, known as skimmers and shimmers, to steal card information at ATMs, fuel pumps, and retail checkout points. These devices are often designed to blend in with the machine, making them difficult for the average user to detect.
How Skimming Works
Skimming typically involves copying the data from the magnetic stripe on the back of a card. A more advanced variant, called shimming, targets the microchip by inserting a paper-thin device inside the card slot. Once the data is captured, it can be used to create duplicate cards or make unauthorized online purchases.
Fraudsters also exploit other tactics. Keypad overlays are placed over ATM keypads to capture PIN entries. Overlay skimmers, which fit over the card slot, may be paired with tiny hidden cameras aimed at the keypad to record PINs. In some cases, criminals rely on wireless skimmers that use Bluetooth or similar technology to transmit stolen information without needing to revisit the machine.
Spotting the Signs
Detecting a skimmer is challenging, but there are small clues to watch for. A card reader that feels loose, appears bulkier than normal, or is a different color from surrounding machines may have been tampered with. If the keypad looks ne
[…]
Content was cut in order to protect the source.Please visit the source for the rest of the article.
Read the original article: