Identity thieves are always looking for new
ways to steal your account information. One of the most popular ways is
skimming. It’s easy to get fooled by skimming, but it’s easy to spot too
— you just have to be on the look out every time you use a gas pump or
ATM.
What is Skimming?
When
you use a credit or debit card to pay for gas at the pump or to use an
ATM, there’s a card reader — the slot you slide your card in and out of.
A skimming device is something that looks identical to the card reader,
but stores your card information. Identity thieves will place this
skimming device over the real card reader, the device will store the
card information of the people who use it, and then the thieves will
come back and retrieve the device. Here’s an example: (see picture above).
How to Spot Skimmers and Protect Yourself
Before you use your card at a gas station or ATM, always
check the card reader. Just grab it and wiggle it to see if it’s loose.
If the reader is loose, do not use it. This should be a routine you do
every single time you use a card at a gas pump or ATM. If you ever
encounter a skimming device, contact the ATM owner and the local police
as soon as possible.
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