Travel Tips—How Do You Protect against Card Skimmers

Card skimming theft can affect anyone who uses their credit or debit cards at ATMs, gas stations, restaurants or retail stores. 

A skimmer is a device installed on card readers that collects card numbers.  Skimmers can usually be spotted by doing quick visual or physical inspections before swiping or inserting a card.

Security tape (or sticker)

How to protect yourself

You can spot a skimmer by watching out for anything that looks like it doesn’t belong on the ATM or card reader. For example, odd or mismatched colors, loose parts, or partially covered pieces could be an indication that a skimming device is present.

Be on the lookout for suspicious devices attached to a card reader and avoid suspicious ATMs:

• Hidden camera
• Sometimes a tiny camera is planted to record cardholders entering a PIN number into an ATM
• One of the simplest things you can do is cover your keystrokes when entering your PIN, which will prevent any hidden cameras from spying on your PIN entry
• Fake PIN keypads 
• Fraudsters are also after your PIN—so many skimming schemes include hidden cameras or fake PIN keypads on the ATM
• If the buttons on an ATM’s keypad are too hard to push, don’t use that ATM and try another one.
• Unlighted card slot
• Many ATMs also have lighted card readers, so an unlighted card slot could mean a skimming device was installed over the top of the lighted slot
• Broken security tap
• Gas pumps should have a security tape or sticker over the cabinet panel (see Figure 1). If the tape looks ripped or broken, avoid using the card reader because a thief may have tampered with it.
• Avoid nonbank ATM
• Try to only use official bank ATMs instead of nonbank ATMs that are often found inside convenience stores or bars. 
• Loosing or misaligned parts 
• Authentic card readers are robustly manufactured, meaning if any part of the card reader can easily move around, then it’s probably been installed illegally by a thief.
• Before using an ATM or gas pump, check for alignment issues between the card reader and the panel underneath it.
• Feel around the reader and try to wiggle it to see if it can easily come out of place.
• Use credit cards instead of debit cards
• Fraudulent charges on a credit card are easier to dispute than charges made using debit card information. 
• Many credit cards have a zero liability policy.

If you ever suspect that there’s a skimmer in a card-reading device, do not perform your transaction. Immediately inform the manager of the store, Credit Union, Bank or call the customer service number of the outlet.

References

1. How To Spot A Credit Card Skimmer - Forbes
2. Watch out for card skimming at the gas pump (FTC)
3. Zero Liability Policy Definition - Credit Cards (Investopedia)