Safety and security should always be your first priority and that includes your money.
There have been an increasing number reports and incidents on ATM and other card swipe devices that you need to be aware of nationally and internationally.
Skimmer devices are being attached or planted on ATM machines and credit card slots at banks, stand-alone ATM, gas stations and other self-service areas.
These devices can record your banking, credit card and pin information by using memory cards, microchips and sometimes a camera while you’re getting money out of your account or paying for something.
The U.S. Secret Service, who also investigates these scams and thefts offers the following advice to protect yourself.
- One simple thing to do is wiggle the machine pieces to see if anything is loose or can easily come off. This is usually an indication that something is attached and not built in.
- Use your hand to cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
- Look for holes that are out of place. This is usually where they place cameras.
- See if the slot where you slide or insert your card is loose or protrudes oddly.
- Check the keypad itself for anything that looks out of place or placed on top of it.
- Use ATM’s that are inside the bank and in view of other security cameras
- Give the entire ATM a once over, looking for anything that seems out of place, different that the rest of the machine or as if it’s been repaired.
- Finally, pay close attention to your credit card and bank statements for add transactions. They don’t always take large amounts or make large purchases.