Expert shares ways to protect your information and avoid ‘skimming’ fraud
JACKSON, Tenn. — One local sheriff’s office recently warned residents to be aware of a new theft that’s happening at the pump and ATMs.
Daniel Irwin with Better Business Bureau shares that the next time you are at an unfamiliar gas station, or an ATM, make sure the machine your are using is not skimming your bank account.
“ATM skimming is the type of credit card fraud that involves hidden recording devices in the ATM. Sometimes skimming devices are physically attached to that ATM,” said Irwin.
“It’s actually pretty prevalent according to one study released by the FTC, it’s guesstimated that this scam kind of cost consumers in the U.S., and financial institutions, more than a billion dollars each year,” said Irwin.
The Federal Trade Commission has also noticed that those with SNAP benefits are at risk of being skimmed. But here are tips to follow and ensure you aren’t the next victim.
Irwin says one tip is to use ‘tap’ pay or use a credit payment option, instead of debit, to avoid entering your pin.
“Go to cardless ATM transactions. You can use your phone in you banks mobile app, that kind of cuts out the middleman without having to go to a physical machine. Use your debt or credit card with chip technology it’s a little more secure,” said Irwin.
Henderson County Sheriff’s Department noticed that gas stations were hot spots for this crime.
“Most of the gas card pump skimmers you can see right there, they’re an attachment on something, so if you kind of take your finger and jiggle it back and forth like its loose that’s not a good sign,” said Irwin.
Another rule of thumb is that ATMs attached to banks are safer than others.
“Also ATMs that are drive up at a bank are sometimes more secure because there’s somebody that’s servicing that and looking at that on a regular bases and there are more security cameras around it,” said Irwin.
Another resource is the Better Business Bureau’s ‘Scammer Tracker.’ Use this to report or find a locations with skimmer incidents reported.
If you’re at the pump or notice a skimming device, let the gas station know and report it to the police.
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