Knowledge - The Best Ways for Prevent ATM Skimmers from Stealing Your Money

October 26, 2017

Withdrawing your money from an ATM Machine or buying things or make transaction with a bank card have long since become habitual for all of us. Unfortunately, this habitual is the full advantage of Criminals for stealing your money from your bank account through your bank card information by Skimming Devices.

What is the Skimming Devices?

Skimming devices capture the magnetic strip information from the back of credit or debit cards. They often attach to ATMs as overlay card readers and keypads. A separate pinhole camera may be used as well to capture personal identification numbers entered into the keypad.

What do the criminals need?

Tto steal money from your bank card, criminals need to copy two things from your information when we use bank card through ATM Machine such as:

1- The information contained in the magnetic strip of your card

2- Your Personal Identification Number (PIN Code)

How can the criminals get?

The criminals can get your information by using 3 Skimming devices to steal your information such as:

1- Skimming ATM Card Reader (Skimmers): The skimmer, which looks very similar to the original card reader in color and texture, fits right over the card reader - the original card reader is usually concave in shape (Curving inward), while the skimmer is more convex (curving out ward). As you insert your bank card, bank account information on the card is "Skimmed", or stolen, and usually stored on some type of electronic device.

2- A cover plate over the keypad (Keypad overlay): The use of a keypad overlay-placed directly on top of the factory-installed keypad---is a fairly new technique that takes the place of a concealed camera. Instead of visually recording users punching in their PINs, circuitry inside the phony keypad stores the actual keystrokes.

3- Hidden Cameras: A concealed camera is typically used in conjunction with the skimming device in order to record customers typing your PIN into the ATM keypad. Camera are usually concealed somewhere on the front of the ATM--in this example, just above the screen in a phony ATM pard---or some where nearby (like a light fixture).

- Use a card with a chip. Skimmers copy the information contained in the magnetic strip. Copying the info in a chip is impossible due to its more sophisticated protection.

- Cover the keypad with your hand when you type in your PIN code. This guide can prevent a hidden camera from recording it, if a camera is present or someone is trying to look over yours shoulder, this will deduct their view.

- Be confuse if strangers other to help you at an ATM, even if your card is stuck of you are having difficulties. Don't allow anyone to distract you.- Limit the area where you use your card. where possible, use an ATM which is in clear view and well it.- Frequently check your account balance and bank statement, and report any discrepancies to your bank immediately.- Keep your PIN code secret. Never reveal it to anyone.
- Frequently change your PIN code - Use well-known ATMs and those located in well-protected areas, such as within branches of banks themselves, as these are harder for scammers to reach. Avoid ATMs on the street as much as you can, as well as those in poorly lit areas, small shops, and secluded parts of malls.- Check that other people in the ATM Room are a reasonable distance away from you.- Check to see if anything looks unusual or suspicious about the ATM, it is appears to have anything stuck onto the card slot or key paid, as picture below, do not use it. Cancel the transaction and walk away or inform to the owner of ATM machine.

- To protect your money avoid from scammer, you should check every ATM you use is a time-consuming process. but this doesn't mean that there is no way to protect your card against scammers. we can reduce the risk to a minimum, stick to the following simple rules that can help you as below:

#10