SHOPPERS are being warned to be careful when paying as credit card skimmers have been found at a number of convenience stores.
Police have shared how to tell real credit card readers from fake ones so you can avoid sneaky information-swiping devices.
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Illegal card readers have been found at gas stations, grocery stores, and convenience stores, including multiple 7-Eleven locations in recent weeks.
Police in Laramie, Wyoming – 50 miles west of Cheyenne – shared ways to tell a real credit card reader from a skimmer after they received a report of a potential card skimmer at a local gas station.
In a Facebook post, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office detailed the six things to look out for before swiping your card.
One thing to note is how wide the borders on the card-reading device are.
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A card skimmer will have wider borders because the device needs to fit over the real credit card reader.
A second sign that you shouldn’t swipe is that the backlight for the keys is either not visible or faint.
Six Signs of a Card Skimmer
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office shared six ways to tell a real credit card reader from a fake skimmer.
- A skimmer device will have wider borders than a real card reader.
- The backlight for keys on a skimmer will likely be faint or not visible.
- The frame of a skimmer will feel loose or detachable.
- The keys on a skimmer will be unusually thick.
- The skimmer’s keys may also feel sticky or spongey when you press them.
- A skimmer will have a wide space between the last row of keys and the bottom of the device.
Third, the frame of a skimmer device will feel loose or detachable.
Also, look closely at the keys on the device.
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Unusually thick keys can indicate that the device is a skimmer.
According to police, a fifth thing to look out for is how the keys feel.
If they feel sticky or spongey when pressed, someone may be trying to steal your information via a card skimmer.
The sixth thing to note is the space between the keys and the bottom of the device.
A large space below the last row of keys could indicate that the device is fake.
SNEAKY SKIMMERS
Credit card skimmers steal your information when you swipe your card’s magnet strip through them.
They are placed over the card readers at self-checkout machines, ATMs, and gas station pumps so that scammers can access your information.
The sneaky devices take some time to install, so they typically are not found at a busy self-checkout in a big supermarket.
They are often found at gas stations or other locations where consumers pay outside.
Consumers should look out for hidden cameras before completing a payment, cybersecurity expert Paul Bischoff shared with Reader’s Digest.
Some scammers place tiny cameras near card readers to capture credit card information and steal PINs based on consumers’ hand movements.
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Bischoff also warned consumers to take extra precautions when using a debit card, as scammers can cash out all your money if they gain access.
Consumers should oversee their bank statements and credit card activity to check if their card information has been skimmed.
https://www.the-sun.com/news/11191778/credit-card-skimmers-convenience-stores-real-from-fake/