Don't Get SKIMmed

Last night I stopped by my local Publix to use the ATM to get a little cash so my husband and I could try out the new frozen yogurt place down the street. When I got to the ATM I remembered all the stories on the news about the Publix stores being targeted by thieves for skimming.  These clever robbers can install a skimming device and a hidden camera on an ATM machine in less than a minute! What these little machines do is read the information on the magnetic strip on your ATM/Debit card and transmits that info to a nearby machine where they quickly make a duplicate of your card. Next they have a hidden camera that records you as you type in your PIN so they can use their fake card around town pulling money out of your account.

Working for a credit union I have been taught what to look for and ran through my checklist to make sure that the machine I was about to use was safe.   Here’s what I do, and what you should do too to avoid becoming a victim of this latest ploy:

• Use an ATM you regularly use (ask the store manager if they routinely check their machines)
• Use well-lit, visible from the street ATM’s
• Look around to see if there is anything unusual hanging off of it or attached to it
• The card slot;   touch it, feel it, -is it loose, if so, don’t use it!
• Cover your hand when entering your PIN number – if the thieves can’t see your PIN from their hidden camera, they can’t use the fake card.
• Watch out for shoulder surfers (the guy that stands right behind you, just over your shoulder)
• Think it looks suspicious?   Take a picture and send it to your institution with the address of the ATM
• If you think there may be a problem, listen to your inner voice and walk away – DO NOT USE IT!

Here’s what a skimmer can look like:

And here’s what that same device looks like placed over a real card reader:

Looks pretty good, doesn’t it?  That’s why it’s important to wiggle it and if it feels even a little loose, don’t use it – alert the store manager or your financial institution right away.

So the next time you get a craving for frozen yogurt and need some quick cash – just make sure you run through the checklist so you can enjoy that yogurt with peace of mind that your money is safe.

^KAT