Next time you use the self-checkout lane at a store, be
sure to take a second look at the machine you use to swipe your credit or debit
card. Scammers are installing "skimmers," devices that collect the
data from credit, debit or ATM cards, on these machines.
How the Scam
Works:
You are checking out at the supermarket or another large
store, and you decide to use the self-checkout lane. You ring up your purchases
and swipe your credit or debit card to pay the bill. You may not notice
anything strange about the card processor, but scammers have attached a skimmer
to some registers. These devices "skim" your card's information off
the magnetic strip.
Skimmers are most commonly installed on ATM card readers.
But in the past few months, several big box stores have found them attached to
the payment processors in self-checkout aisles. Be careful when using these
lanes and follow the advice below for spotting a skimmer.
Protect Yourself
from a Skimmer:
- Pay with a credit card or cash: You aren't liable for
fraudulent charges on your credit card (but be sure to report them to your
bank). But if scammers gain your debit card info, they may be able to drain
your account.
- Protect your PIN. Place your hand or a piece of paper
over the keypad when entering your number. Some scammers set up a video camera
nearby to record customers entering their PINs.
- Look for signs of skimmers. Tape is often used to
attach the skimming devices; if something looks odd, wiggle it to make sure it
doesn't come loose.
- Use chip readers when available: The new credit/debit
card processors -- which require you to "dip" a chip card instead of
swipe the magnetic stripe -- are more secure. Check to see that your credit and
debit cards have them, and use them whenever possible.
- Be wary of strange signs. Some con artists attach signs
to ATMs or card processors providing alternate instructions, such as telling
users to swipe their card on a separate reader first. If something looks out of
place, find a different machine and report it to the store manager or the
police.
Source: Better Business Bureaus | 
