CarderPlanet
Professional
- Messages
- 2,552
- Reaction score
- 710
- Points
- 83
Content
The owner of the bank card must keep this tool safe. It is necessary not only to keep the card in a safe place, but also to protect it from fraudsters. If your card details fall into the hands of a criminal, then you can lose your money, and if your card is a credit card, then you can get a big debt.
#AllLoansOnline will tell you about the most popular methods of fraud with bank cards and how you can avoid them. You will be able to well protect your card and the money on it, as well as avoid unpleasant situations.
Skimming
This is the copying of bank card data using special devices - skimmers. Such devices are installed in ATM card readers. As soon as a person inserts the card into the device, the skimmer reads the data from the magnetic stripe or chip.
It remains only to find out the PIN-code of the card. Scammers will be able to do this with the help of special keyboard overlays. They remember all keystrokes, and then you can copy the code from them. You can also place a hidden camera on the ATM, which will track all the actions of the one who uses the device.
To protect against skimmers, ATMs are often equipped with protective inserts - anti-skimmers. They look like round devices made of translucent green plastic that are inserted into card readers. However, scammers can use very small readers or disguise them as anti-skimmers.
Using the data and PIN received from the skimmer, the fraudsters then make fake cards, which can then be freely used to pay or withdraw money. You can also use stolen card details to pay or transfer money online.
How to avoid?
Try to use ATM machines located in bank branches. For them, organizations provide a sufficient level of protection, so it becomes very difficult to somehow modify them.
If you cannot contact a bank branch, then carefully choose an ATM. Inspect it, check for the skimmer and keyboard patch. Move the cover over the card capture reader - if it loosens a little, then something is wrong with it.
When you enter your PIN, cover the keypad with your other hand and cover it with your body. Pay attention to suspicious people who may be standing near the ATM. If you have any suspicions or problems, call the bank immediately.
Phishing
This type of fraud consists in fraudulently obtaining the card details. Most often it is used on the Internet, but sometimes it is also used in real life.
Fraudsters create a website that masquerades as an online store, payment service, or even a bank. The appearance of such a fake site often does not differ at all from the original. A similar URL for the page is also generated.
The victim is taken to a phishing site through a link in an email or by mistake when trying to find a bank or store in a search engine. Then the site, in one way or another, requires you to leave the card details, including the PIN-code and the three-digit security code on the back of the card. If this is a bank, then it will report an alleged technical failure in the system and demand that the card details be clarified in order to restore it. The store will require you to enter all this information to pay for the purchase.
It looks like phishing, enticing card data over the phone under some pretext. The fraudster may introduce himself as a bank employee, who will demand to provide the card details and PIN-code - for example, to unblock it. If you placed an advertisement for the sale of something on a social network or on a trading platform, then the attacker will call under the guise of a buyer and ask you to provide all the card details in order to transfer money.
How to avoid?
Do not post card details on suspicious sites. Before buying anything from an online store, check its reliability and safety - read reviews, contact support, ask to show registration documents. The connection to the site must be secure: the site address must start with "https://".
If you suspect that the site of a store or bank is phishing, then additionally check its authenticity. Try to follow the links on it - most likely, they do not work or do not lead anywhere. Take a close look at the site address - you will notice the differences from the official one.
The Central Bank website has a list of officially confirmed banking websites. You can check with him if you doubt the authenticity of the site, which is disguised as a bank.
Also, do not give card details over the phone. If the person who calls you introduces himself as a bank employee, then check with him the information about your account - for example, the current balance or the tariff plan. If the buyer calls, then agree to payment only after the transfer of the goods.
SMS fraud
With this method, you will receive a message with suspicious content on your phone. His goal, like a phishing site, is to force a person to tell the fraudster the card details in one way or another. Let's consider the most popular scenarios for such a fraud.
Similar schemes are also common in social networks and instant messengers. Here, a message that may turn out to be fraudulent, you can even receive on behalf of a person you know - most often it is a request to borrow money. This happens if a person's account has been hacked, and an attacker writes to you instead of its owner.
How to avoid?
Never reply to suspicious SMS. Check the number from which the message came. If it is from a bank, call the official hotline number and ask if your card is really blocked. If it is from your relative, immediately call him and ask about the incident. If you receive a suspicious message from a friend on the social network, try contacting him in a different way to find out if his page has been hacked.
It is also advisable to add suspicious numbers to your phone's blacklist. Then you will avoid repeated calls and messages.
Viruses
A program is installed on a computer or phone, the purpose of which is to find out the data of your card. It can enter the system unnoticed or disguise itself as another program.
Viruses can infect not only computers or phones, but also ATMs. Any device can have a security hole through which malware can penetrate. The virus also collects information about cards or allows an attacker to withdraw any amount of money from the device.
Different viruses learn information about cards in different ways. For example, they can track your internet traffic, view your online activities and browsing history. Such viruses can also recognize your keyboard presses.
In other cases, the program replaces the requests that search engines give out with phishing ones. A person goes to a site that resembles a bank or an online store, and, inadvertently, leaves his data there.
Also, the virus can change the details when carrying out operations with the card. For example, a victim wants to pay for utilities in the Internet bank. Then the virus will replace the account number to which you want to transfer money to the number of the fraudster, and sometimes even change the payment amount. The user will not notice anything.
How to avoid?
Install a reliable antivirus on your computer and phone and update it regularly. Don't download anything from suspicious sites. Try to use only licensed programs.
When making payments over the Internet, enter all important data using the on-screen keyboard. In Windows 10, it can be opened from the Start menu - Special. features - On-screen keyboard. There is a similar function in other versions of the system, as well as in macOS and Linux. On mobile devices, you can use the system keyboard, which usually appears when entering sensitive data by default. The work of such a tool is much more difficult to track.
As for hacking ATMs, the situation here depends more on the bank than on you. Keep up with the news of the organization you use. If there are messages about security problems at ATMs, try not to use these devices until the situation is resolved.
Stealing money from contactless cards
These actions pose a threat to cards that support contactless payment technology - PayWave from Visa and PayPass from MasterCard. Such cards do not have to be inserted into the payment terminal when paying. It is enough to bring them to the device for a few seconds.
The problem is that contactless payment works all the time (you cannot turn it off for a while), and with any devices that are ready to accept money. Therefore, anyone can bring the reader to the card and carry out the desired operation. In a large crowd, this can be done almost imperceptibly. To steal from contactless cards, attackers can use both self-made readers and official POS terminals registered with fly-by-night companies.
There is a restriction for all contactless cards: only $ 15 can be debited once without entering the PIN-code. However, the removal operation can be done as many times as you like.
How to avoid?
To interact with a contactless device, the card must be brought very close. Therefore, store it under several layers of clothing, in your wallet or wallet in your bag. So the distance for the operation will be too great.
Some companies offer special cases and wallets for contactless cards. They have a protective layer of aluminum that does not transmit signals from the reading devices. Such a wallet or case will additionally protect your cards.
Scammers in banks and shops
Bank employees and shop assistants may also try to steal your card information. These can be separate unscrupulous employees or front people from criminal organizations.
Such an employee will require you to provide your card in his hands in order to carry out the operation. Then, unnoticed by you, he will try to copy the information from it - for example, enter it into a pre-opened text file on a computer or pass it through a skimmer. The bank employee will also ask you for a PIN code under some pretext - for example, to confirm the transaction. After all these actions, the fraudster will have all the information about the card, with which you can make a fake copy.
How to avoid?
Keep your card with you, try not to give it to anyone. If you have to hand the card to the seller or bank employee, then follow it carefully. Keep her in your field of vision and intervene if you think the person is doing something suspicious to her.
Also remember that bank employees are not allowed to ask for your card PIN.
Fake ATMs
This type of scam is rare due to the high cost of a counterfeit ATM. However, you can still get caught.
Fake ATM machines are installed in places where there are no guards or cameras. Such a device looks very similar to the original one, but differs greatly in its internal "stuffing". It usually only has a computer with the system installed on it and a reader with a built-in skimmer. A memory pad is also placed on the keyboard.
The victim inserts his card into the ATM and, as usual, enters her PIN. Then the person tries to perform some action - for example, withdraw money or check the balance. The device throws an error and returns the card. Meanwhile, the skimmer reads all the information, and the pad remembers the PIN.
How to avoid?
As with skimmers, use only devices that are in bank branches and in crowded guarded places, for example, in large shopping centers. It is very difficult to put a fake ATM there.
In addition, the suspicious device can be distinguished from the official ones: it is not fixed to the floor, it is lighter in weight (since there is no storage for money), it is not connected to the mains. Also, the design of the ATM may differ from the standard one, which is accepted in this bank.
Penalties for fraudsters
The penalties for those who carry out fraudulent activities with bank cards.
It establishes different liability for criminals, depending on the severity of the harm caused:
Main security measures
To further protect your bank card, please also follow these rules:
Some people suggest memorizing the three-digit code and then erasing it from the card to further improve security. However, we do not recommend doing this - some stores do not accept such cards.
Conclusion
The security of your credit and debit cards is largely up to you. Therefore, always try to provide as much protection as possible for them. Keep the card in a safe place, do not trust it to suspicious people, monitor the status of the account. In an emergency, contact the bank and the police.
Banks are constantly improving security systems, and fraudsters find ways to bypass them. Therefore, the threat to your cards may appear even from where you least expect it. We will continue to follow the topic of bank card security and will tell you how to avoid new types of fraud.
So, to avoid scammers who can steal money from bank cards, follow a few simple rules:
If you have lost your card or think that its details have got to scammers - urgently block it and request a reissue.
What methods of fraud with bank cards have you encountered? You can tell us about them and how to protect yourself from scammers in the comments.
- Skimming
- Phishing
- SMS fraud
- Viruses
- Stealing money from contactless cards
- Scammers in banks and shops
- Fake ATMs
- Penalties for fraudsters
- Main security measures
- Conclusion
The owner of the bank card must keep this tool safe. It is necessary not only to keep the card in a safe place, but also to protect it from fraudsters. If your card details fall into the hands of a criminal, then you can lose your money, and if your card is a credit card, then you can get a big debt.
#AllLoansOnline will tell you about the most popular methods of fraud with bank cards and how you can avoid them. You will be able to well protect your card and the money on it, as well as avoid unpleasant situations.
Skimming
This is the copying of bank card data using special devices - skimmers. Such devices are installed in ATM card readers. As soon as a person inserts the card into the device, the skimmer reads the data from the magnetic stripe or chip.
It remains only to find out the PIN-code of the card. Scammers will be able to do this with the help of special keyboard overlays. They remember all keystrokes, and then you can copy the code from them. You can also place a hidden camera on the ATM, which will track all the actions of the one who uses the device.
To protect against skimmers, ATMs are often equipped with protective inserts - anti-skimmers. They look like round devices made of translucent green plastic that are inserted into card readers. However, scammers can use very small readers or disguise them as anti-skimmers.
Using the data and PIN received from the skimmer, the fraudsters then make fake cards, which can then be freely used to pay or withdraw money. You can also use stolen card details to pay or transfer money online.
How to avoid?
Try to use ATM machines located in bank branches. For them, organizations provide a sufficient level of protection, so it becomes very difficult to somehow modify them.
If you cannot contact a bank branch, then carefully choose an ATM. Inspect it, check for the skimmer and keyboard patch. Move the cover over the card capture reader - if it loosens a little, then something is wrong with it.
When you enter your PIN, cover the keypad with your other hand and cover it with your body. Pay attention to suspicious people who may be standing near the ATM. If you have any suspicions or problems, call the bank immediately.
Phishing
This type of fraud consists in fraudulently obtaining the card details. Most often it is used on the Internet, but sometimes it is also used in real life.
Fraudsters create a website that masquerades as an online store, payment service, or even a bank. The appearance of such a fake site often does not differ at all from the original. A similar URL for the page is also generated.
The victim is taken to a phishing site through a link in an email or by mistake when trying to find a bank or store in a search engine. Then the site, in one way or another, requires you to leave the card details, including the PIN-code and the three-digit security code on the back of the card. If this is a bank, then it will report an alleged technical failure in the system and demand that the card details be clarified in order to restore it. The store will require you to enter all this information to pay for the purchase.
It looks like phishing, enticing card data over the phone under some pretext. The fraudster may introduce himself as a bank employee, who will demand to provide the card details and PIN-code - for example, to unblock it. If you placed an advertisement for the sale of something on a social network or on a trading platform, then the attacker will call under the guise of a buyer and ask you to provide all the card details in order to transfer money.
How to avoid?
Do not post card details on suspicious sites. Before buying anything from an online store, check its reliability and safety - read reviews, contact support, ask to show registration documents. The connection to the site must be secure: the site address must start with "https://".
If you suspect that the site of a store or bank is phishing, then additionally check its authenticity. Try to follow the links on it - most likely, they do not work or do not lead anywhere. Take a close look at the site address - you will notice the differences from the official one.
The Central Bank website has a list of officially confirmed banking websites. You can check with him if you doubt the authenticity of the site, which is disguised as a bank.
Also, do not give card details over the phone. If the person who calls you introduces himself as a bank employee, then check with him the information about your account - for example, the current balance or the tariff plan. If the buyer calls, then agree to payment only after the transfer of the goods.
SMS fraud
With this method, you will receive a message with suspicious content on your phone. His goal, like a phishing site, is to force a person to tell the fraudster the card details in one way or another. Let's consider the most popular scenarios for such a fraud.
- You receive a message stating that your card has been blocked. To unblock, you are offered to call the phone number indicated in the message. If you call this number, you will be required to provide the card details.
- You can also receive an SMS supposedly from your relative, for example, a child. It will say that the person is now in a difficult situation and he urgently needs money. The message contains the number of the account where you want to send the required amount. In this case, the fraudster will receive both money and card details.
- You will receive a message that you have won a prize draw. But in order to collect the reward, you need to send some amount to the organizer's account - for example, pay for delivery.
Similar schemes are also common in social networks and instant messengers. Here, a message that may turn out to be fraudulent, you can even receive on behalf of a person you know - most often it is a request to borrow money. This happens if a person's account has been hacked, and an attacker writes to you instead of its owner.
How to avoid?
Never reply to suspicious SMS. Check the number from which the message came. If it is from a bank, call the official hotline number and ask if your card is really blocked. If it is from your relative, immediately call him and ask about the incident. If you receive a suspicious message from a friend on the social network, try contacting him in a different way to find out if his page has been hacked.
It is also advisable to add suspicious numbers to your phone's blacklist. Then you will avoid repeated calls and messages.
Viruses
A program is installed on a computer or phone, the purpose of which is to find out the data of your card. It can enter the system unnoticed or disguise itself as another program.
Viruses can infect not only computers or phones, but also ATMs. Any device can have a security hole through which malware can penetrate. The virus also collects information about cards or allows an attacker to withdraw any amount of money from the device.
Different viruses learn information about cards in different ways. For example, they can track your internet traffic, view your online activities and browsing history. Such viruses can also recognize your keyboard presses.
In other cases, the program replaces the requests that search engines give out with phishing ones. A person goes to a site that resembles a bank or an online store, and, inadvertently, leaves his data there.
Also, the virus can change the details when carrying out operations with the card. For example, a victim wants to pay for utilities in the Internet bank. Then the virus will replace the account number to which you want to transfer money to the number of the fraudster, and sometimes even change the payment amount. The user will not notice anything.
How to avoid?
Install a reliable antivirus on your computer and phone and update it regularly. Don't download anything from suspicious sites. Try to use only licensed programs.
When making payments over the Internet, enter all important data using the on-screen keyboard. In Windows 10, it can be opened from the Start menu - Special. features - On-screen keyboard. There is a similar function in other versions of the system, as well as in macOS and Linux. On mobile devices, you can use the system keyboard, which usually appears when entering sensitive data by default. The work of such a tool is much more difficult to track.
As for hacking ATMs, the situation here depends more on the bank than on you. Keep up with the news of the organization you use. If there are messages about security problems at ATMs, try not to use these devices until the situation is resolved.
Stealing money from contactless cards
These actions pose a threat to cards that support contactless payment technology - PayWave from Visa and PayPass from MasterCard. Such cards do not have to be inserted into the payment terminal when paying. It is enough to bring them to the device for a few seconds.
The problem is that contactless payment works all the time (you cannot turn it off for a while), and with any devices that are ready to accept money. Therefore, anyone can bring the reader to the card and carry out the desired operation. In a large crowd, this can be done almost imperceptibly. To steal from contactless cards, attackers can use both self-made readers and official POS terminals registered with fly-by-night companies.
There is a restriction for all contactless cards: only $ 15 can be debited once without entering the PIN-code. However, the removal operation can be done as many times as you like.
How to avoid?
To interact with a contactless device, the card must be brought very close. Therefore, store it under several layers of clothing, in your wallet or wallet in your bag. So the distance for the operation will be too great.
Some companies offer special cases and wallets for contactless cards. They have a protective layer of aluminum that does not transmit signals from the reading devices. Such a wallet or case will additionally protect your cards.
Scammers in banks and shops
Bank employees and shop assistants may also try to steal your card information. These can be separate unscrupulous employees or front people from criminal organizations.
Such an employee will require you to provide your card in his hands in order to carry out the operation. Then, unnoticed by you, he will try to copy the information from it - for example, enter it into a pre-opened text file on a computer or pass it through a skimmer. The bank employee will also ask you for a PIN code under some pretext - for example, to confirm the transaction. After all these actions, the fraudster will have all the information about the card, with which you can make a fake copy.
How to avoid?
Keep your card with you, try not to give it to anyone. If you have to hand the card to the seller or bank employee, then follow it carefully. Keep her in your field of vision and intervene if you think the person is doing something suspicious to her.
Also remember that bank employees are not allowed to ask for your card PIN.
Fake ATMs
This type of scam is rare due to the high cost of a counterfeit ATM. However, you can still get caught.
Fake ATM machines are installed in places where there are no guards or cameras. Such a device looks very similar to the original one, but differs greatly in its internal "stuffing". It usually only has a computer with the system installed on it and a reader with a built-in skimmer. A memory pad is also placed on the keyboard.
The victim inserts his card into the ATM and, as usual, enters her PIN. Then the person tries to perform some action - for example, withdraw money or check the balance. The device throws an error and returns the card. Meanwhile, the skimmer reads all the information, and the pad remembers the PIN.
How to avoid?
As with skimmers, use only devices that are in bank branches and in crowded guarded places, for example, in large shopping centers. It is very difficult to put a fake ATM there.
In addition, the suspicious device can be distinguished from the official ones: it is not fixed to the floor, it is lighter in weight (since there is no storage for money), it is not connected to the mains. Also, the design of the ATM may differ from the standard one, which is accepted in this bank.
Penalties for fraudsters
The penalties for those who carry out fraudulent activities with bank cards.
It establishes different liability for criminals, depending on the severity of the harm caused:
| Characteristics of the offender and the amount of damage | Punishment |
| One person | Fine up to $ 2000 Mandatory work for up to 360 hours Correctional labor for up to a year Restriction of liberty for up to two years Forced labor for up to two years Arrest for up to four months |
| Group of persons by prior conspiracy | Fine up to $ 5000 Mandatory work for up to 480 hours Correctional labor for up to two years Forced labor for up to five years with or without restraint of liberty for up to a year Imprisonment for up to five years |
| Person vested with official powers and damage on an especially large scale | Fine up to $ 7000 Forced labor for up to five years with or without restraint of liberty for up to a year Imprisonment for up to five years with or without a fine of up to $ 1100 |
| Organized group of persons or damage on an especially large scale | Imprisonment for up to ten years with or without a fine of up to $ 15000 |
Main security measures
To further protect your bank card, please also follow these rules:
- Do not give these cards to suspicious people and do not leave them on unreliable sites. Also, carefully save the PIN and 3-digit security code on the back of the card.
Some people suggest memorizing the three-digit code and then erasing it from the card to further improve security. However, we do not recommend doing this - some stores do not accept such cards.
- Set restrictions on transactions - payments, transfers, withdrawals. This way you can protect your account from big losses. Restrictions can be set in the Internet bank or in the mobile application. Many banks provide this function.
- Do not store large amounts of money on your primary debit card. It is best to open a separate bank account or deposit for them. You can also get two cards - one to store money, the other to pay for purchases.
- Be sure to enable SMS alerts. With the help of them, you can always monitor the status of your card account. With each transaction you will receive a notification with full information about it.
- If you have lost your card or suspect that data about it fell into the hands of fraudsters, immediately call the bank and ask to block it. Provide the reason for blocking - for this, most likely, you will have to write a statement. The bank will start re-issuing the card. At the same time, contact the police for help.
Conclusion
The security of your credit and debit cards is largely up to you. Therefore, always try to provide as much protection as possible for them. Keep the card in a safe place, do not trust it to suspicious people, monitor the status of the account. In an emergency, contact the bank and the police.
Banks are constantly improving security systems, and fraudsters find ways to bypass them. Therefore, the threat to your cards may appear even from where you least expect it. We will continue to follow the topic of bank card security and will tell you how to avoid new types of fraud.
So, to avoid scammers who can steal money from bank cards, follow a few simple rules:
- Use ATM machines only in crowded and guarded places - for example, in bank branches
- Don't leave card details on suspicious sites
- Check the address of the bank or online store and compare it with the real one
- Do not disclose secret card data to anyone, even bank employees
- Check your computer for viruses and enter card data using the virtual keyboard
- Keep a close eye on contactless cards
- Do not let go of the card unnecessarily if you pass it to another person - watch it carefully
If you have lost your card or think that its details have got to scammers - urgently block it and request a reissue.
What methods of fraud with bank cards have you encountered? You can tell us about them and how to protect yourself from scammers in the comments.
