DauPhung
May 20, 2009, 11:09 PM
1. IS YOUR ATM SAFE?
ATMs offer convenient access to your cash 24/7. And that also makes them a tempting target for criminals who have found ways to use technology to tap into people's accounts and steal their money.
The Global ATM Security Alliance, an industry group, says such crimes affect only a tiny fraction (less than 0.2%) of the roughly 49 billion ATM cash withdrawals made worldwide each year. But ATM fraud still costs the U.S. banking industry about $60 million a year.
"We've seen a significant increase in activity in the past 18 months or so," says Jim Pettitt, the director of ATM security and planning at Diebold, a cash machine manufacturer. Two "skimmer" operations discovered in May in New York, for example, had raked in nearly $2.3 million from bank customers.
2. READ YOUR FORTUNE!
The first things skimmers need are your name and account number, which they can get from the magnetic strip on your bank card.
They can do this by using a card reader of their own, installed over an ATM's built-in reader. Less sophisticated scams may use separate readers with signs or stickers directing consumers to use the bogus one instead of, or in addition to, the one mounted on the ATM.
Thieves also can employ advanced devices that transmit skimmed card data via cell phone. That way they don't risk detection or arrest by coming back to retrieve phony card readers or other devices.
3. CAUGHT ON CAMERA
The would-be thief also wants your personal identification number, or PIN.
One way to get it is by installing a small video camera that can record your keystrokes as you punch in your code. Tiny cameras have been found hidden on ATMs themselves or mounted nearby.
An ATM was spotted recently in Manhattan with an extra security mirror mounted above it; that mirror hid a video camera with a view of the keypad. Cameras have also been found mounted in brochure holders near ATMs.
4. FINDING THE KEY
Another way for a crook to get your PIN is by overlaying a device on top of a legitimate keypad.
Such fake keypads are thin and can look and feel much like the real ones they are covering. And each key press on the overlay triggers the real key below it, so your transaction proceeds normally.
As a result, you may not suspect that anything is wrong, but all the while the overlay is recording your keystrokes, storing the digits for later use.
5. SNEAKING A PEEK
Some thieves use a low-tech approach to get your PIN called "shoulder surfing." It involves someone standing behind or beside you who watches you type in your code.
For that reason and others, it's a good idea to be alert when you use an ATM, keeping an eye out for anyone loitering by the machine.
Also, the American Bankers Association recommends that you cover your hand when punching in your PIN. Get in the habit of doing it even when no one else is around, because the same technique also may thwart any hidden camera trying to record your keystrokes.
6. FALSE FRIENDS
If the ATM you're using doesn't return your card, be careful if another customer steps up and tries to help you. Sometimes a scammer will pretend to offer assistance as a way to trick you into revealing your PIN.
Also, do not give your PIN to anyone who phones you or e-mails you. Often thieves will steal a card, then contact the cardholder, pretending to represent the issuing bank or the police. Their real goal is to get a PIN number to go with that card.
You can also make their job harder by memorizing your PIN, rather than writing it down and keeping it with your card.
7. OTHER SCAMS
ATM makers say a thief may use a device that looks like part of a card reader to trap your card, with the aim of retrieving it after you leave. If this happens to you, don't re-enter your PIN. Instead, report the matter to your bank or credit union right away.
Another trick involves putting a false front on a machine to intercept the cash you're withdrawing or depositing.
And ATMs are not the only machines being tampered with by thieves. Phony card readers have been found on DVD rental kiosks and on card-activated pumps at gas stations.
8. COUNTERMEASURES
Banks and ATM manufacturers are doing what they can to prevent skimming. Some banks in Europe have started issuing cards that use chips, rather than magnetic strips, on the theory that such cards are harder to read and clone.
ATM manufacturer Diebold has developed a sensor system for detecting the presence of a skimmer. Diebold and NCR, another ATM maker, also have developed machines that intake cards in a jittery motion meant to prevent skimmers from working. Still, the threat is constantly evolving.
"We have an internal task force, and we do try to stay one step ahead," says Jim Pettitt, the director of ATM security and planning at Diebold. "But there is no silver bullet."
9. THE BEST DEFENSE
By knowing what to look for and being alert whenever you use an ATM, you may be able to spot skimming devices and avoid being scammed.
But because thieves are getting more daring and the technology available to them is getting better all the time, even the most careful consumer can be fooled.
That's why banks recommend that you regularly check your account balances by going to their online banking sites, by phone or by printing out statements at an ATM. That way you can quickly spot unauthorized transactions or fraudulent use of your cards.
10. ACT, DON'T HESITATE
If your card is lost or stolen, or if you find that someone has been making unauthorized withdrawals from your account, you should report it to your bank right away.
Remember that your liability for fraudulent use of your card depends on how quickly you report the loss. Wait longer than 60 days, and you could be on the hook for the whole amount.
The American Bankers Association recommends that you keep a list (in a safe place) of card numbers, PINs, expiration dates and the toll-free numbers of your banks. That way you can report any problems quickly and easily.
- Article from MSN News
ATMs offer convenient access to your cash 24/7. And that also makes them a tempting target for criminals who have found ways to use technology to tap into people's accounts and steal their money.
The Global ATM Security Alliance, an industry group, says such crimes affect only a tiny fraction (less than 0.2%) of the roughly 49 billion ATM cash withdrawals made worldwide each year. But ATM fraud still costs the U.S. banking industry about $60 million a year.
"We've seen a significant increase in activity in the past 18 months or so," says Jim Pettitt, the director of ATM security and planning at Diebold, a cash machine manufacturer. Two "skimmer" operations discovered in May in New York, for example, had raked in nearly $2.3 million from bank customers.
2. READ YOUR FORTUNE!
The first things skimmers need are your name and account number, which they can get from the magnetic strip on your bank card.
They can do this by using a card reader of their own, installed over an ATM's built-in reader. Less sophisticated scams may use separate readers with signs or stickers directing consumers to use the bogus one instead of, or in addition to, the one mounted on the ATM.
Thieves also can employ advanced devices that transmit skimmed card data via cell phone. That way they don't risk detection or arrest by coming back to retrieve phony card readers or other devices.
3. CAUGHT ON CAMERA
The would-be thief also wants your personal identification number, or PIN.
One way to get it is by installing a small video camera that can record your keystrokes as you punch in your code. Tiny cameras have been found hidden on ATMs themselves or mounted nearby.
An ATM was spotted recently in Manhattan with an extra security mirror mounted above it; that mirror hid a video camera with a view of the keypad. Cameras have also been found mounted in brochure holders near ATMs.
4. FINDING THE KEY
Another way for a crook to get your PIN is by overlaying a device on top of a legitimate keypad.
Such fake keypads are thin and can look and feel much like the real ones they are covering. And each key press on the overlay triggers the real key below it, so your transaction proceeds normally.
As a result, you may not suspect that anything is wrong, but all the while the overlay is recording your keystrokes, storing the digits for later use.
5. SNEAKING A PEEK
Some thieves use a low-tech approach to get your PIN called "shoulder surfing." It involves someone standing behind or beside you who watches you type in your code.
For that reason and others, it's a good idea to be alert when you use an ATM, keeping an eye out for anyone loitering by the machine.
Also, the American Bankers Association recommends that you cover your hand when punching in your PIN. Get in the habit of doing it even when no one else is around, because the same technique also may thwart any hidden camera trying to record your keystrokes.
6. FALSE FRIENDS
If the ATM you're using doesn't return your card, be careful if another customer steps up and tries to help you. Sometimes a scammer will pretend to offer assistance as a way to trick you into revealing your PIN.
Also, do not give your PIN to anyone who phones you or e-mails you. Often thieves will steal a card, then contact the cardholder, pretending to represent the issuing bank or the police. Their real goal is to get a PIN number to go with that card.
You can also make their job harder by memorizing your PIN, rather than writing it down and keeping it with your card.
7. OTHER SCAMS
ATM makers say a thief may use a device that looks like part of a card reader to trap your card, with the aim of retrieving it after you leave. If this happens to you, don't re-enter your PIN. Instead, report the matter to your bank or credit union right away.
Another trick involves putting a false front on a machine to intercept the cash you're withdrawing or depositing.
And ATMs are not the only machines being tampered with by thieves. Phony card readers have been found on DVD rental kiosks and on card-activated pumps at gas stations.
8. COUNTERMEASURES
Banks and ATM manufacturers are doing what they can to prevent skimming. Some banks in Europe have started issuing cards that use chips, rather than magnetic strips, on the theory that such cards are harder to read and clone.
ATM manufacturer Diebold has developed a sensor system for detecting the presence of a skimmer. Diebold and NCR, another ATM maker, also have developed machines that intake cards in a jittery motion meant to prevent skimmers from working. Still, the threat is constantly evolving.
"We have an internal task force, and we do try to stay one step ahead," says Jim Pettitt, the director of ATM security and planning at Diebold. "But there is no silver bullet."
9. THE BEST DEFENSE
By knowing what to look for and being alert whenever you use an ATM, you may be able to spot skimming devices and avoid being scammed.
But because thieves are getting more daring and the technology available to them is getting better all the time, even the most careful consumer can be fooled.
That's why banks recommend that you regularly check your account balances by going to their online banking sites, by phone or by printing out statements at an ATM. That way you can quickly spot unauthorized transactions or fraudulent use of your cards.
10. ACT, DON'T HESITATE
If your card is lost or stolen, or if you find that someone has been making unauthorized withdrawals from your account, you should report it to your bank right away.
Remember that your liability for fraudulent use of your card depends on how quickly you report the loss. Wait longer than 60 days, and you could be on the hook for the whole amount.
The American Bankers Association recommends that you keep a list (in a safe place) of card numbers, PINs, expiration dates and the toll-free numbers of your banks. That way you can report any problems quickly and easily.
- Article from MSN News