subject: 3 Methods Identity Criminals Use In Order To Skim Your Personal Data [print this page] It looks as though having to pay by check will go the way of the dinosaur. For years check fraud was out of control and something law enforcement officers had a difficult time getting a handle on. It is now on the wane according to the Financial Crime Enforcement Network. Exactly why is it on the decline? Evidently consumers are starting to make use of fewer paper checks.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for debit cards. As their usage has gone up so too has the amount of criminal activities. One of the methods that is extremely pronounced in some of these crimes as well as charge cards on the whole is skimming which ranks as one of the top five ways criminals commit identity theft.
Skimming occurs whenever a small piece of equipment is employed to read your personal charge card details without you being aware. The apparatus after analyzing the credit card makes a photocopy which identity thieves use to drain your account dry. There are a number of techniques they are able to carry out skimming.
1. The ATM Machine
This skimming apparatus is rigged at an automatic teller machine without anyone seeing it until it is way too late. It works especially well when the atm is inside the financial institution's vestibule. Fraudsters sometimes will set it up so it not only skims the data but also takes the card so as to give the appearance of being jammed in the machine. Once you leave to notify someone the thief quickly grabs the card before you can return.
Just how well does this work? Recently a California resident. Police explained the person installed the skimmer then utilized the information to create bogus debit cards
2. The Retail Store or Restaurant
The check comes so you give the card to the waiter. They go in back and easily swipe the card. Sometimes it's more audacious. You give the card to the cashier and they have a skimmer right there. But the device is so small, happens so quickly and is concealed in such a way that you do not even notice.
3. The Gasoline Pump
This is not a new occurrence however it is increasing particularly with the growth of the self-service pump. The skimming works much the same way as the automatic teller machine. Thieves show up when the gas station is closed (sometimes not) and the skimmer on the pump. When you cover your gasoline the card information has been logged. As stuff gets a little more advanced the identity thieves don't even need to make an appearance. The details are relayed to an online server where crooks are ready to record your personal details.
