Teacher
Professional
- Messages
- 2,669
- Reaction score
- 829
- Points
- 113
The volume of the bank card market has been growing rapidly lately. It is not surprising that all sorts of swindlers strive to grab a piece of this delicious "pie". At the same time, they skillfully and quite impudently use the gifts of technical progress, as well as the carelessness and carelessness of credit card holders. One of the most well-known types of bank card fraud is skimming.
What is skimming?
From English, this unusual word for us is translated as "skimming". Unfortunately, as a result of skimming, the most “tasty” thing disappears from the card - the money on it.
The main idea and purpose of skimming is to read information from the magnetic stripe of a credit card and find out the PIN code. Then the received data is recorded on counterfeit plastic, and the illegal issuance of funds is carried out using the PIN-code. The trick is that in case of a fake transaction, the authorization request and cash withdrawal will be made from the account of the real, “skimmed” card.
Skimmer: how does it work?
Criminals steal magnetic information from a card at the moment when a person withdraws money or pays for services at an ATM or terminal. This is done with the help of a skimmer, which consists of a miniature information converter, a storage device and a reading magnetic head.
The skimmer can be made in the form of an external cover on the ATM card reader, or inserted directly into the card reader. These devices are made in such a way that their color and shape ideally match the ATM, they are powered by miniature batteries.
There are two types of skimmers: the former simply accumulate read-out information about the cards, and the latter immediately transmit it to fraudsters (usually via radio).
To find out the PIN, criminals use overhead keyboards or micro-video cameras. The fake keyboard is installed on top of the real one. Now some ATMs are equipped with a touch screen, but this did not bother the scammers: the thinnest plastic covers are glued directly to the screen.
As for video cameras, they are usually installed on the ATM itself and directed towards the keyboard. It is difficult to see mini-cameras - scammers disguise them as advertising materials, ATM visor, etc.
By the way, when paying for services in hotels, retail outlets or at gas stations, you can also suffer from skimming: unscrupulous employees (cashiers, waiters) use all kinds of portable reading devices that are invisibly attached to the terminal. True, in Russia this is still a rarity.
Shimming
Shimming is an advanced version of skimming. The principle is the same - a reading device called a shimmer is installed in the ATM card reader. This is the thinnest flexible board, which is almost impossible to see.
How to protect yourself from skimming?
You don't have to think that it is you that bank card fraud will never affect you - caution will not hurt anyone. Here are 10 basic rules to help protect yourself from skimming (not a panacea, but still):
It is worth noting that banks, for their part, also do everything possible to protect against skimming: they install anti-skimming devices, change the modification of ATMs, organize security, try to issue cards with a chip, etc. But vigilance doesn't hurt anyway.
What is skimming?
From English, this unusual word for us is translated as "skimming". Unfortunately, as a result of skimming, the most “tasty” thing disappears from the card - the money on it.
The main idea and purpose of skimming is to read information from the magnetic stripe of a credit card and find out the PIN code. Then the received data is recorded on counterfeit plastic, and the illegal issuance of funds is carried out using the PIN-code. The trick is that in case of a fake transaction, the authorization request and cash withdrawal will be made from the account of the real, “skimmed” card.
Skimmer: how does it work?
Criminals steal magnetic information from a card at the moment when a person withdraws money or pays for services at an ATM or terminal. This is done with the help of a skimmer, which consists of a miniature information converter, a storage device and a reading magnetic head.
The skimmer can be made in the form of an external cover on the ATM card reader, or inserted directly into the card reader. These devices are made in such a way that their color and shape ideally match the ATM, they are powered by miniature batteries.
There are two types of skimmers: the former simply accumulate read-out information about the cards, and the latter immediately transmit it to fraudsters (usually via radio).
To find out the PIN, criminals use overhead keyboards or micro-video cameras. The fake keyboard is installed on top of the real one. Now some ATMs are equipped with a touch screen, but this did not bother the scammers: the thinnest plastic covers are glued directly to the screen.
As for video cameras, they are usually installed on the ATM itself and directed towards the keyboard. It is difficult to see mini-cameras - scammers disguise them as advertising materials, ATM visor, etc.
By the way, when paying for services in hotels, retail outlets or at gas stations, you can also suffer from skimming: unscrupulous employees (cashiers, waiters) use all kinds of portable reading devices that are invisibly attached to the terminal. True, in Russia this is still a rarity.
Shimming
Shimming is an advanced version of skimming. The principle is the same - a reading device called a shimmer is installed in the ATM card reader. This is the thinnest flexible board, which is almost impossible to see.
How to protect yourself from skimming?
You don't have to think that it is you that bank card fraud will never affect you - caution will not hurt anyone. Here are 10 basic rules to help protect yourself from skimming (not a panacea, but still):
- To withdraw cash and make payments, if possible, choose ATMs located inside credit institutions, or those that are guarded.
- Use the card only in trusted retail outlets.
- Before carrying out the operation, carefully inspect the ATM for any suspicious devices.
- Keep your credit card PIN confidential.
- Do not pass the card to strangers and never let it out of sight.
- Connect SMS banking.
- If possible, use microchip cards - data from them is much more difficult to read.
- Set the maximum limit for the withdrawal of funds per day.
- If you receive an SMS message about an operation that you have not performed, immediately call the bank and block the card.
- If possible, do not throw away checks.
It is worth noting that banks, for their part, also do everything possible to protect against skimming: they install anti-skimming devices, change the modification of ATMs, organize security, try to issue cards with a chip, etc. But vigilance doesn't hurt anyway.
