Credit Card Skimming Scams

Credit card skimming scams is an increasing phenomenon whereby a consumer's credit card is duplicated and used elsewhere without the clients' permission or knowledge. These types of scams are generally associated with organized crime syndicates who could not commit these scams successfully without the assistance of individuals in the retail sector. Credit card skimming is one of the single largest scams responsible for losses exceeding billions of dollars annually around the world.

How these scams are committed

Fraudsters have developed devices, able to read and store the information at the back of a credit card on the magnetic strip, when the card is swiped through the device. These skimming devices comes in various sizes and shapes and have been built with the aim of extracting information from the magnetic stripe of the credit card and storing it onto the device.

Syndicates typically approach individuals employed in the retail sector, accepting payment from clients. These individuals are offered attractive remuneration for their services and are simply asked to swipe a clients' credit card through the device before or after processing the payment. These individuals are generally paid for the number of credit cards they swipe through the device on a daily basis. In general syndicates prefer to target employees of restaurants. Syndicates would, on a daily basis obtain the skimming device from the person it was given to, and provide him / her with a new device for the next days' work. After obtaining the device, the syndicate would download all the credit cards' information from the device to a computer. From here the syndicate are in a position to transfer the information to a new card's magnetic strip, now having a cloned or duplicated credit card.

The more organized syndicates would often have the equipment required to fake a specific banks' credit cards' colour and designs ensuring they can operate successfully in public presenting the card as means of payment.

The lesser organized syndicates who does not have the required equipment would need to rely on other criminals employed in the retail sector who would assist in accepting the credit card payment where a blank card is presented and swiped.

Fraudsters also recently started creating skimming devices in the shape of a card slot of an Automatic Teller Machine. This device will then replace the actual card slot of an ATM, recording all information on magnetic stripes of cards placed into an ATM.

Protecting yourself against these scams

1. When presenting your credit card as means of payment it is always advisable that you accompany your card and keep your eyes on it at all times. Do not allow a waiter or other employees take your card away from your supervision.

2. When placing your card into an ATM slot, ensure that there are no signs of tampering.

3. If your bank offers a real-time electronic alert service, whereby you can be informed of all transactions on your account, you should sign up for this service. You will be in a position to identify fraudulent transactions immediately or soon after they occur.

4. Always ensure that you have your credit card in your possession. If your card is not in your direct possession, ensure that your card is locked away safely.