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10 Tips: Skimming scams

The Florida Division of Consumer Services recently issued a consumer alert about the sneaky practice of "skimming" taking place at restaurants and other places where your credit card might leave your sight for a few minutes.

By Laura T. Coffey, Times Correspondent
Published September 30, 2007

What will criminals think of next? The Florida Division of Consumer Services recently issued a consumer alert about the sneaky practice of "skimming" taking place at restaurants and other places where your credit card might leave your sight for a few minutes. These tips can help you protect you:

1 Understand how it works. It's not too difficult to order an electronic device known as a "skimmer" over the Internet. These devices can be used to capture and store information not just from credit cards, but from driver's licenses and passports. When skimming crimes have been uncovered in restaurants, some waiters have been found hiding small, personal skimmers in their aprons.

2 Be wary of other tricks. Sometimes skimming devices get attached to ATMs and gas pumps at the spot where you'd normally swipe your card. If your transaction can't be completed for some reason after you've swiped your card, a skimmer might be to blame.

3 Think about what's at stake. Those little magnetic strips on the back of your credit and ATM cards contain a wealth of encoded information, including your name, address, telephone number, card number, credit limit and PIN number.

4 Learn how to spot skimming devices. When you approach an ATM or gas pump, give it a good once-over before swiping your card. Look for faceplates and card readers that appear to have been attached to the original machine; signs with strange messages such as, "Swipe your card here before inserting it into the card reader"; or tiny cameras pointing not at your face, but at the spot where you'd type in your PIN.

5 Educate yourself about RFID cards. RFID stands for "radio frequency identifier." This form of smart-card technology can make it even easier for your credit card to be skimmed for information. Why? An RFID card contains a small, wireless computer chip and antenna that can transmit data without physical contact. Someone armed with the right kind of skimmer could lift data off your card from 30 to 70 feet away.

6 Pay for an RFID shield. Call your credit card issuers to find out if you have RFID cards in your wallet. If you do, invest in "RFID shields" for your cards - these small sleeves also are known as portable "Faraday cages" - or buy a scanner-proof wallet.

7 Take additional precautions. Keep an eye on your credit card in a discreet way. At home, go over your account statements to make sure you don't spot unusual credit card charges or ATM withdrawals.

8 Never share your personal identification number. If you reveal your PIN to others, you've given them all they need to withdraw money from your account. You'll be responsible for those withdrawals.

9 Contact your bank for help. If you're fairly certain you're a victim of skimming, call your bank or credit card issuer immediately. You should be able to get any stolen money refunded to you.

10. Report skimming incidents. In addition to contacting your bank or credit card company, call Florida's consumer hotline toll-free at 1-800-435-7352to alert authorities to skimming.

Laura T. Coffey (laura@tentips.org

Sources: Florida Division of Consumer Services (www.800helpfla.com), Bankrate.com, Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov).

[Last modified September 28, 2007, 19:22:48]