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I had a co-worker once who used his debit card at an ATM at a coffee shop nearby our office. Somehow, some genius had installed a mechanism in the ATM to read

by PakG1 14y ago

I had a co-worker once who used his debit card at an ATM at a coffee shop nearby our office. Somehow, some genius had installed a mechanism in the ATM to read the stripe and the PIN. So they were able to take that info and create a fake debit card that replicated my co-worker's debit card. The next week, his bank account got cleaned out. He was absolutely broke and went through a few weeks of hell trying to get it all sorted out. Fortunately, the bank was able to help him out. I don't know what happened with the police investigation, but basically none of us used cards at that coffee shop again. The coffee shop was still operational, and I think the police were somehow able to determine that it wasn't the coffee shop at fault (maybe only a single employee or an ATM maintenance guy, not sure). I think this is why a lot of debit cards have chips nowadays. The chips are harder to counterfeit (I think). But I think we still have to grandfather all the old debit cards without chips. :(

idonthack 14y ago
The chips actually make the entire card easier to counterfeit. Someone just has to walk by you with the proper radio and your card will speak up and give out all the information necessary to make charges.
alanfalcon 14y ago
Interesting information (with pictures) about ATM skimmers here: http://m.krebsonsecurity.com/tag/atm-skimmer/ http://m.krebsonsecurity.com/tag/atm-skimmer/ Doesn't take a genius, just some capital and a willingness to break the law and risk getting caught.
megablast 14y ago
Wow, I thought everybody had heard of ATM card skinners by now. Be very careful at any ATM you use, don't think you are safe because you avoid that cafe's. And cover your hand when you enter a pin.
- PakG1 14y ago
  That was in 2010, hadn't heard of them back then. Not sure if they were actually common back then, although I'm sure they're certainly more common now. Yes, careful, careful. :(

by PakG1 14y ago

idonthack 14y ago

The chips actually make the entire card easier to counterfeit. Someone just has to walk by you with the proper radio and your card will speak up and give out all the information necessary to make charges.

alanfalcon 14y ago

Interesting information (with pictures) about ATM skimmers here: http://m.krebsonsecurity.com/tag/atm-skimmer/ http://m.krebsonsecurity.com/tag/atm-skimmer/ Doesn't take a genius, just some capital and a willingness to break the law and risk getting caught.

megablast 14y ago

Wow, I thought everybody had heard of ATM card skinners by now. Be very careful at any ATM you use, don't think you are safe because you avoid that cafe's. And cover your hand when you enter a pin.

PakG1 14y ago
That was in 2010, hadn't heard of them back then. Not sure if they were actually common back then, although I'm sure they're certainly more common now. Yes, careful, careful. :(