Comments for ID An ATM Skimmer

ID An ATM Skimmer

2009-04-21T18:56:11Z

Here's a 24-page PDF of a powerpoint on ATM skimmers that's making the rounds in Australia. If you've been reading every ATM skimming post, most of this is review, but it contains several more examples of what skimmers can look like and what to watch out for. Though it's from an Australian bank, most of the information is general enough to apply to any ATM. A handy document to pass around to friends and family to warn them about ATM skimming dangers.

ATM Card Skimming and PIN capturing Awareness Guide [Commonwealth Bank] (PDF) (Thanks to Laura!)

Comment from BadHairLife on 2009-08-16

2009-08-16T06:02:12Z

@SameenaFlute:I hate to depress you, but that's not necessarily safer. Both people of my acquantance who were victims of skimming thefts had their card info and PIN stolen in a store by a dishonest employee. In both cases, it was a gas station they regularly patronized.

One of them is very vigilant and kept her eyes on her card the whole time, but the guy was so good at the second swipe, that she didn't even notice it. (He had put an extension of some kind on the swipe pad on top of the register.)

Comment from oneandone on 2009-04-22

2009-04-23T01:13:37Z

@redskull: Who said anything about driving? Many (most?) ATMs are walk-ups.

Comment from Joel0 on 2009-04-22

2009-04-22T17:19:10Z

Not that I don't appreciate this info, but perhaps you could change the name of this web site to "Skimmerist.com"

Comment from amandakerik on 2009-04-22

2009-04-22T10:28:35Z

@Saboth: At least you were aware and checked it out. Most people would shrug, make a mental note to someday call the bank about it and forget.

Comment from mariospants on 2009-04-22

2009-04-22T05:53:33Z

@Red_Eye: Plus who wants to wait for half an hour just to let the teller know that you're the kind of person who'd wait in line for half an hour just to withdraw $60?

Comment from mariospants on 2009-04-22

2009-04-22T05:52:23Z

I'd be so jazzed if I found one of these things: free spy camera!!

Comment from Grrrrrrr, portrait of a chickenwolfmoosepig. on 2009-04-21

2009-04-22T04:31:00Z

Interesting reading and good info.

There's a bright side..at least skimmers don't charge you $3.00 to rip you off like the banks do....

Comment from ironchef on 2009-04-21

2009-04-22T03:34:05Z

@AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave: Those ATMS have a complete ring of light. I doubt a skimmer would want to devote so much power and space to a lighting rig.

Comment from MyDarlin on 2009-04-21

2009-04-22T01:46:57Z

@rbb:

Now that's a really good idea.
Like was said above, I don't have any idea what my ATM is supposed to look like. I only go about every 4-6 months. I guarantee I will be wiggling and looking at it more closely now.

Thanks!

Comment from scoosdad on 2009-04-21

2009-04-22T01:22:54Z

@rbb: That's spooky, I had the same thought yesterday when I was at my BofA drivethrough ATM. With the big high resolution color screen right in your face, rather than hitting you with stupid marketing ads before you insert your card, they'd be better served to show you a picture of what that particular ATM's card slot should look like before you put your card in. That's so simple it's almost stupid.

Of course, that would give a less than warm and fuzzy feeling to their customers, and they'd never do it.

For the record, my ATM's card slot was surrounded by a ring of closely spaced ultra bright green LEDs that flash before you put the card in, then stay lit up while the card is inside. Has been that way for a long long time and it's something I always remember about the slot.

Comment from NobleCrayfish on 2009-04-21

2009-04-22T01:07:23Z

@Sockatume: this sounds like an EXCELLENT weekend hobby

Comment from AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave on 2009-04-21

2009-04-22T00:09:10Z

@ironchef: Or do like what your computer case does, and have a piece of acrylic to transfer the light.

Comment from tenners on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T23:21:49Z

@Red_Eye: Some banks charge teller fees though.

Comment from ShadowFalls on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T23:21:43Z

@ShadowFalls:

When I said "these things" I meant how to ID the devices.

Comment from ShadowFalls on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T23:20:48Z

I'm surprised these things aren't even on all ATMs by now...

Comment from PlanetExpressdelivery on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T23:14:27Z

@ironchef: It's already been done. One of the previous skimmer posts on Consumerist showed a skimmer that had LEDs.

Comment from theblackdog on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T23:10:42Z

@ironchef: How hard would it be to rig up the skimmer to have flashing LEDs?

Comment from ironchef on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T22:41:58Z

Some ATMs have a lit card slot (like B of A).

That would be hard to rig a skimmer on top of a LED lit card slot.

Comment from econobiker on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T22:19:18Z

@mmcnary: "Our ATM design doesn't lend itself to skimming, because pf the position and format of the card reader." Yet. As we read this, there probably is a meth head in a basement painting and sanding away at a skimmer for your ATM's ...

Comment from AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T21:28:36Z

@PencilSharp: Needs to be more game show-y. The clock will start after I finish reading the first request.

Comment from AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T21:27:35Z

@rbb: If they were in scouts, they should!

Comment from Saboth on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T21:17:10Z

These posts have me all paranoid. I went to the ATM at Wachovia yesterday and said "Hmm, the way my card went in seemed kind of "floppy". So I was poking and prodding the little grey rectangle for a bit, then looking around for hidden cameras.

Comment from Sockatume on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T21:15:57Z

There's a half-decent media player in one of those. Maybe I should spend my weekends looking for card skimmers and selling the guts to Computer Exchange. It's win-win.

Comment from rbb on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T21:09:26Z

@AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave:

You can't plan for every contingency...

Comment from Saisu Mimen on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:53:22Z

@caveman1428:

Most ATMs are built without any sort of removable "clutter" around the front (as seen in the left pic) for this very reason. If you spot any pamphlet holders or any other things that appear to not be part of the solid facade like extra mirrors, it may be one of those devices (they're usually put up with mounting tape).

More info + pics
[www.snopes.com]

Comment from cupcake_ninja on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:50:59Z

@caveman1428:
I have no qualms about briefly shaking or wiggling the card reader before I insert my card. In the age of prevalent ID theft, I'd rather get arrested than to have my info stolen. We're not talking about shaking and kicking it like a vending machine that took your money and won't drop your bag of Cheetos. A quick jiggle of the reader ought to do the trick.

Comment from PencilSharp on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:48:45Z

@PlanetExpressdelivery: I like this version better:

ED-209: You are in direct violation of Penal Code 1.13, Section 9, Put down the skimmers and put your hands ups. You have 0.2 seconds to comply... I am now authorized to use physical force!

*boom*boom*boom*boom*

Comment from PencilSharp on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:45:43Z

@rbb: I would recommend weight sensors attached to the most likely spots for skimmers that disable the ATM when triggered.
I would also have recommended using large retail chains to make small purchases with cash back, but we all know how well that works...

Comment from Anonymous on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:43:19Z

Why not just use cash-back from ATM card purchases made in-store? If you're withdrawing such a wad anyway, wouldn't you rather do it with some protection around?

Comment from AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:35:30Z

@Red_Eye: And how do you propose they do this? B/c now you are setting the terms, so you must provide a "test" which they must pass in order for you to use it.

Comment from AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:34:16Z

@redskull: I'll have to ask my Ex if she ever drives the blind guy she dumped me for to the ATM.

Comment from Red_Eye on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:30:31Z

The easiest way to deal with this epidemic is to go into your bank and use a Teller. Explain to the teller that you wont use the banks atms until such time as the bank makes them 100% secure from skimming.

Comment from PlanetExpressdelivery on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:21:11Z

OCP recommends deploying an ED-209 to monitor every large ATM gallery.

[en.wikipedia.org]

[Enterprising scammer tries to install skimmer]
ED-209: Halt!
Scammer: Oh shit! Okay I give up, just don't shoot!
ED-209: You are in direct violation of Penal Code 1.13, Section 9, Put down the skimmers and put your hands ups. You have 20 seconds to comply.
[Scammer sets skimmers down on the floor and puts hands up]
ED-209: You have 15 seconds to comply.
Scammer: What? Wha?
ED-209: You have 5 seconds to comply.
Scammer: Wait I put the skimmers down and my hands are up!
ED-209: Four... three... two... one... I am now authorized to use physical force!

Comment from redskull on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:07:24Z

@AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave: At the risk of being flamed, has anyone anywhere in the history of the civilized world ever seen a blind person at a drive thru ATM? Ever?

Comment from redskull on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T20:04:55Z

@rbb: Now that's a good idea!

Comment from AutoTuneShouldBeACrime_GitEmSteveDave on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T19:59:49Z

What about blind people? Maybe they could make a braille bah relief of what the ATM should feel like...

Comment from rbb on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T19:50:24Z

@mmcnary: Just because you think your ATM design does not lend itself to skimming is not a reason to let your guard down. These thieves are quite creative...

Comment from rbb on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T19:48:51Z

An easy way to prevent skimming or to at least warn the customer would to program the ATM's display to show a picture of what the ATM should look like. If anything on the real ATM does not match the photo, then have the customer call security.

Comment from j-o-h-n on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T19:41:39Z

@caveman1428: If you're like me, a large percentage of your ATM withdrawals come from just a couple/few machines -- those, at least, you should be able to spot something that looks off.

In any event, the best thing you can do is hide your pin entering (I think the cameras are more prevalent than the fake keypad).

Comment from mmcnary on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T19:38:31Z

I work for a regional bank, and my security guy just sent me this document because I was asking about skimmers. Our ATM design doesn't lend itself to skimming, because pf the position and format of the cad reader.

Comment from caveman1428 on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T19:16:22Z

is still dont get how we're supposed to spot these things in the wild if we dont know what the atm looked like before anything was installed? im gonna be the one to get arrested for tugging and banging on every piece of the atm cause im looking for skimmers. i mean i get this is the whole idea behind them but im at a loss

Comment from xspook on 2009-04-21

2009-04-21T19:12:38Z

Not to nit-pick, but it's a pdf file from a powerpoint...Appreciate the info, though!