You ever see a credit card skimmer?

[vash]

Attached to a legit ATM or something? I need to pay better attention. Been lucky so far.

[javadog]

Nope...

[Paul K]

Yes, in England. Looked like part of the ATM. It wasn't.

[stomachmonkey]

Getting harder to detect.

Many are completely internal and the latest trend is building them based off cell phones.

Basically burners with pay as you go sims so they are capable of dumping card data via SMS to anywhere on the planet in real time.

They even go so far as tapping internal power so no batteries to worry about going back and changing.

[ossiblue]

There are several types of skimmers/shimmers out there, both external and internal, the more recent versions fit inside the slot of the legit card reader and you cannot detect them. They don't interfere with the use of the card and are downloaded by the thief when he uses a special card to extract the information.

Cruder, overlay versions are the only ones you could detect. Look for anything loose on the machine around the slot, and look for anything that could be a camera (or hide a camera) above the keyboard. (Remember, cameras only need a pinhole to capture the keyboard.) If anything about the machine wiggles or looks to have been opened, or is without a tamper-proof seal, be wary and don't use it. Self-service check-outs in some stores are targets of card scammers, as are stand alone ATMs, so be extra vigilant when using them. Thieves are clever and always using the latest technology. As mentioned, the internal skimmers/shimmers are undetectable by the customer so even the most careful person could get hit.

[Don Ro]

I've never snatched cash from an ATM...I don't even know my PIN(?) number.
Get cash from my bank teller. I'm old fashioned. That's heavy on "old".

[Seahawk]

One of the things I enjoy most about PP is the tech knowledge.

So, what does someone like me do?

I have a traveler credit card from the company I own with a low ceiling but in my everyday life I use a debit card exclusively.

Financially (my educational background) that is smart but what risk exposure do I have? Is there anyway an admittedly Luddite-ish person can keep abreast of the threat?

I love the convenience, hate the exposure.

[TheMentat]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

One of the things I enjoy most about PP is the tech knowledge.

So, what does someone like me do?

I have a traveler credit card from the company I own with a low ceiling but in my everyday life I use a debit card exclusively.

Financially (my educational background) that is smart but what risk exposure do I have? Is there anyway an admittedly Luddite-ish person can keep abreast of the threat?

I love the convenience, hate the exposure.

I think you are better off using the credit card... most card companies insure you against theft/fraud, and will reimburse. Debit card? Not so much...

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Financially (my educational background) that is smart but what risk exposure do I have?

I love the convenience, hate the exposure.

Debit cards have much weaker fraud protection.

From Bankrate.com

"Whether because of fraud or a simple mistake, the odds are good that at some point in your debit card holdership, you’re going to find a transaction on your statement that you didn’t authorize, or worse, a checking account that is emptied. And that brings us to our next problem.

Fraud protection has a shelf life: The longer it takes you to report fraud, the more of that fraud you’ll have to pay for, Hughes says.

If you report within two days, your liability is limited to $50
After two days but up to 60 days later, your liability is limited to $500.
After 60 days, your liability is unlimited.
You may be waiting a long time to get your money back: Unlike with credit cards, debit card fraud saps money directly from a victim’s checking account. While they’re waiting to get it back, they may struggle to cover expenses."

I don't have a debit card. I use a cash-back credit card. I go online and pay the full balance every month. I have it set up so my bank will auto-pay the minimum amount due out of my checking account in case I screw up and don't get it paid, as protection against a late-pay fee.

[911boost]

Yes, we Check a lot of ATM's in certain cities for them. Like has been mentioned, the thiefs are getting good.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

One of the things I enjoy most about PP is the tech knowledge.

So, what does someone like me do?

I have a traveler credit card from the company I own with a low ceiling but in my everyday life I use a debit card exclusively.

Financially (my educational background) that is smart but what risk exposure do I have? Is there anyway an admittedly Luddite-ish person can keep abreast of the threat?

I love the convenience, hate the exposure.

The debit card is more dangerous than a credit card because with the debit card you are opening up your checking account to tampering.

We got caught up in this when Target was hacked. At first our bank told us to just monitor the activity because they didn't want to go through the hassle of issuing a new one. Our reply was fine, we'd just close all accounts and go to another bank in order to avoid any potential problem. They then changed their mind...

Now, we don't use the debit card. We go to the bank, hand the teller a check made to cash. Usually only $500 or so at a time. Let the hackers try to gain info from that!

[enzo1]

Happened to me over 4th July wknd, Indian gas station. Lots of cameras and lights. Put the card in once it was a no go try again 2nd time it let me have gas... Wife got a call @ midnight asking her XYZ questions. They killed the card.

[masraum]

Isn't that the whole point, you see the skimmer, but you don't see the skimmer. And from what I've read, they've gotten so slick that you pretty much can't tell that they are there unless you're taking the machine apart to check.

I also remember someone posting a video here not that long ago of a couple of folks installing one INSIDE a store on the counter with other folks in line behind them. They were very quick and very slick about getting the teller distracted.

[wildthing]

I don't ever withdraw cash in non-bank ATMs, and when I do, I do so only in my own bank's ATMs. I hate fees, even if it's only $3. Hey that's a loaf of bread!

I think those 3rd party ATMs are more likely to be tampered with. Not that bank ATMs are invulnerable...

[pegasus9]

I always go inside to pay for gas. No matter how much of a hurry I'm in. Never used the ones outside. Been burned a couple times.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by black pegasus

I always go inside to pay for gas. No matter how much of a hurry I'm in. Never used the ones outside. Been burned a couple times.

I am clearly on borrowed time.

I haven't paid inside in 15 years.

While I am dense, this thread has made me realize how naive I am. Dense and naive.

F me.

[Evans, Marv]

You have to be careful with your credit cards at places like restaurants too. Last year we had our credit card compromised twice at a restaurant on a local reservation. I paid by card twice and had unauthorized charges on the card three days afterwards. I caught it both times when checking my account. I looked at the records online and saw the only place we visited twice in that period of time was that restaurant and both times had unauthorized charges three days afterward. I took a printout of my charges to the security head and showed it to him. Of course he said they would investigate, and of course I never heard what happened about it.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Debit cards have much weaker fraud protection.

From Bankrate.com

"Whether because of fraud or a simple mistake, the odds are good that at some point in your debit card holdership, you’re going to find a transaction on your statement that you didn’t authorize, or worse, a checking account that is emptied. And that brings us to our next problem.

Fraud protection has a shelf life: The longer it takes you to report fraud, the more of that fraud you’ll have to pay for, Hughes says.

If you report within two days, your liability is limited to $50
After two days but up to 60 days later, your liability is limited to $500.
After 60 days, your liability is unlimited.
You may be waiting a long time to get your money back: Unlike with credit cards, debit card fraud saps money directly from a victim’s checking account. While they’re waiting to get it back, they may struggle to cover expenses."

......

OK, I'm gonna go against the "bank's version", which is designed to put $ on their bottom line, by scaring folks into using a CC (where they make about 4% on every purchase ), verses a debit card where the only make a few cents per transaction. This 4% is paid by the vendor, and ultimately the consumer, even if one never carries a balance and never pays a cent in interest. Think about it...they LOVE folks who use CC exclusively....all the "cash back" incentives, etc. are for a reason....cause they are still making a bundle.

I cancelled my credit union Visa years ago and only use my CU Visa debit exclusively. The same service provider is monitoring ALL for fraud these days. I had my debit card "frozen" years ago when someone in Indiana attempted to charged gas or something (never came out of my checking acct.)...they automatically sent me a new card....minor inconvenience. A couple of years ago, someone in San Francisco attempted a couple of $600 purchases....all I received was an automated phone message where, when prompted, I indicated the charges were not authorized...again, nothing out of my checking acct.

It's not like it was in the early days when debit cards first appeared on the scene. I've never known anyone who's lost a cent via debit or credit fwiw....the Card industry is a cash cow, and they will eat losses (chump change) so consumers use them without fear....they don't want the cow to stop laying golden eggs .

CCs have their niche, but using them exclusively is simply adding to the overall cost....passed on to consumers, of everything....I don't fall for that bs....YMMV.

Again, with CCs, the interest accrued on carrying balances, is not where they make their money...but 4% on EVERY credit card purchase is a banker's dream.

I have an overdraft protection of 2k on my checking account...and don't worry about what's in the account...I don't keep a lot there.
You certainly don't want to use a debit and not have it covered....Banker's LOVE their overdraft fees too .

That's just what I do....and have done for years....I sleep well at night....YMMV.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I am clearly on borrowed time.

I haven't paid inside in 15 years.

While I am dense, this thread has made me realize how naive I am. Dense and naive.

F me.

No you're not . I LOVE the convenience, and only use my debit exclusively....it's my ATM too. If I need pocket money, I buy everything on my debit, love the convenience, and simply get "cash back" (out of my checking acct) when I use it at the grocery store, Home Depot, etc.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I am clearly on borrowed time.

I haven't paid inside in 15 years.

While I am dense, this thread has made me realize how naive I am. Dense and naive.

F me.

I don't pay inside either. It's all about risk. You determine the balance between risk and inconvenience (because added security always adds inconvenience). I've had my card compromised several times over the past 20 years. It has never cost me a dime. I try to be safe about it, but I also won't make myself miserable worrying about it.