How to spot a card skimmer
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)—The FBI said that it's estimated that card skimmers cost financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion each year.
In August 2024, the Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) warned merchants and consumers to be on the lookout for skimmers after two were found in local stores.
Card skimmers look very similar to legitimate card readers. The CCPD said that the fraudulent card skimmers often appear slightly thicker and may lack the protective keypad covering designed to minimize what bystanders can see when a customer is typing numbers during a transaction.
Because the differences are so slight and may not be immediately noticeable to customers, merchants are also urged to make frequent checks of their card readers to make sure they have not been tampered with, the CCPD said.
According to Capital One , when a card is skimmed, its details can be stolen via the card's magnetic strip. This then allows for the scammer to take things like the cardholder's name, card number and expiration date can be copied and used in fraudulent ways.
While less common, there are thin devices called credit card shimmers that can be inserted inside chip-reading slots, Capital One adds. Shimmers are generally invisible from the outside of a card-reading slot and can steal data from standard EMV chips—not just the card's magnetic stripe like skimmers.
Capital One said that scammers could try to use the stolen data to:
Make unauthorized purchases online or over the phone
Sell the data to other scammers for a profit
Use it for identity theft
Create counterfeit cards
Counterfeit cards will usually have all the same information as the stolen card. So, any time the scammers use the replicated card, the original account can be charged.
Videos of card skimmers being ripped off of gas station pump card readers, inside shops and in almost any place can be found on social media nowadays. So how do these people spot the skimmers?
The FBI gives some tips and tricks that could help protect your card information.
Here's what to look for:
Most skimming devices used at ATMs and point of sale (POS) terminals fit over the original card reader, so be sure to look for anything that could be off.
Does it wiggle or seem loose? If so, do not swipe or insert your card.
Look for anything crooked, damaged or scratched
At gas stations, they can also be hidden internally behind the card reader.
Look for security tape placed over the cabinet panel of the gas pump. If the panel has been tampered with, the security tape will read "void."
Fake keypad covers can also be used to record a PIN. Do the buttons not align or seem off? Pull at the edges of the keypad before entering your PIN.
If you suspect or find a skimmer on an ATM or POS terminal, notify the business and local law enforcement immediately. If the business does not seem concerned, it's suggested to find a new place to get gas or shop.
Here's some other things you can do to protect yourself:
, and you will receive a notification or alert whenever your card is used.
Use a chip-enabled card if you have one since it is typically harder to install a shimmer inside the machines.
Tap to pay, contactless-enabled cards or phones are also a good option if possible since there won't be an insertion of your physical card. Tap-to-pay transactions are more secure and less likely to be compromised.
Pay with cash whenever possible.
Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN, and never share your PIN with anyone. Pinhole cameras can be placed above or around the PIN Pad or installed on the ATM to record a customer as they enter their PIN.
POS/ATM terminals in tourist areas are popular targets for skimming devices. Be extra cautious in these areas.
If possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card to avoid entering your PIN. Credit cards may also provide additional protections against fraud.
Choose a fuel pump that is closer to the store and in direct view of the attendant. These pumps are less likely to be targets for skimmers.
Run your debit card as a credit card. If that's not an option, cover the keypad when you enter your PIN.
If possible, use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location. These may still be tampered with but are less-vulnerable targets.
If possible, use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location., These may still be compromised, but are less-vulnerable targets.
Never give card information over the phone or email unless you are completely sure that you are speaking to an actual institution that can be trusted with your information.
In Chatham County, anyone with information about who may be responsible for card skimmers is asked to contact police. Anonymous tips can be sent through the Chatham County Police Department app, or the Department's online tip form .
You can also call Crime Stoppers at 912-234-2020, where tipsters are anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
