Now that you've made all of these skimming-related posts, you've got me into the habit of yanking all of the components of any given ATM before swiping/inserting my card. Because of this, I'm sure that I'M the one who looks suspicious to the person behind me in line.

Still wish more people knew about skimming.

@summerbee: I do the same thing. I always wave to the camera first though :)

@summerbee: I do the exact same thing. Or I'll go into my bank and make a withdrawal now. Hooray for paranoia!

You should have an account if you want to access these terminals, so they should be enclosed.

Even after I check and i'm fairly sure there isnt a skimmer, I do like I did in school covering my answers, except its my pin that i put my hand over so that unless the camera is right up on the numbers it wont likely catch my pin.

@summerbee: I've been doing the same thing. Actually had to explain it to a guy who apparently thought I was going to steal part of the ATM(wtf). He looked more horrified than anything when it sunk in.

@Willow "Hooray for paranoia!"
Paranoia keeps us alive and somewhat healthy! :)

I only withdraw cash when I make a deposit at the teller window these days...

I've found myself doing the same. Usually just on the part where your card goes in. Need to start covering my PIN though. The skimmers are really easy to buy. There are shady groups overseas that sell them openly on the web.

@temporaryerror - The funny thing is, most newer ATMs I see are the kind with these really big (easy to read for old people) keys with Braille on them. It's kind of hard to cover a keypad twice as big as your hand while punching in your PIN. If you weren't standing directly in front of it, somebody could steal your PIN from fifty feet away.

A two-person team could rob you blind. One sits at a table, the kind sometimes provided at convenience stores that sell food, nursing a cup of coffee while reading your PIN as you enter it, and somebody just outside waiting to pick your pocket as you leave the store.

@Duckula22:
An account with whom? How is a vestibule supposed to know what account you're trying to access? It would be that bank's ATM card, another bank's ATM card, a credit card, a gift card, etc. Besides, a thief could open an account with fake info anyway.

@summerbee: I do the same. I'm waiting to get arrested for vandalism.

@HurtsSoGood:

Yeah, I can't figure out the braille on the number keys. Put a bump on the number 5, and perhaps some braille on the number 1, and you're done. The rest should be intuitive, and I bet it's quicker to just "know" the layout, rather than try to read every single darn key.

Now, the OK/correct/cancel buttons? Sure, those need them. Maybe even the decimal point, too.

This guy gets to make new friends in the Federal Pen! Love it!

Are people going around putting plastic ants on ATM's like they're doing on cakes?

[cakewrecks.blogspot.com]

I had fraudulent charges show up on my BOA Visa check card (BOA alerted me), so they gave me a new number. I had the new card and was using it for only two to three weeks before BOA notified me AGAIN that fraudulent charges were being posted to my account... using the new number. I have no idea how the thieves managed to get the new number so quickly, as I hadn't made that many purchases in that time, though it occurred to me a skimmer might be the culprit. But the only time I used an ATM or other similar device with the new card was at the drive-through of my Bank of America branch in order to activate the card.

All my recent check card troubles have alerted friends of mine to the scare of having their accounts hijacked, and I've been updating them on the latest "skimming" scams, after what I've read in Consumerist.

("Skimming scams." I like the sound of that.)

I think I'll send this link to a few dozen friends who might not have understood my description of what the skimming scam is.

Another thanks to Consumerist for keeping me and other readers informed about these matters.

@Willow01: This is better, actually. Keep the tellers employed

@burnedout: Same here. I make my deposits at a teller and grab cash for the week. I actually started doing this because deposits at the ATM took too long to clear, but it has the side benefit of allowing me to avoid the ATM entirely.

@summerbee: Ditto! Thank you very much, Consumerist!

Even in enclosed places, ATM's are not safe. Near to where I live, there is a small mall with a chase bank in the mall, and outside of the bank near the doors is a few ATM's

A few months ago, the machine I was about to use had a skimmer on it. it was a small compact one that fits right over the card slot so the ATM still works as normal but it takes all of the info and sends it to the criminal.

But theres 1 annoying problem, there is a camera built into the TM and behind all of the ATM's there is a large camera and off to the sides, there more cameras. It seems that cameras are useless when people don't actually monitor it.
When I went in to report that the ATM had a skimmer on it, the workers didn't really listen to me and the skimmer was on the machine for a few days before it was removed, I'm guessing by the criminal who put it there.

This is starting to become a widespread crime because not enough security measures are taken and the measures that are there now are being served through incompetence so there also useless.

the skimmer used on that machine was well designed, the card skimmer had a built in camera and was also attached using double sides tape when you pull it back a little, and best of all, no PCB, all custom parts attached to some tape on both sides to the circuitry can take the cheap of the casing so the skimmer can be as small as possible.

What the banks need to do is release tv ads showing different skimmers and also put a picture on the machine it's self, displaying how the machine should look, the picture also needs a security label like that found on money and there can be a small black light above the photo so users know it is valid. then if the machine looks any different they can avoid using it and report the machine to a worker.

For me when I notice problems like this, I will report them but if the workers don't want to listen then I will ignore it as i will not waste my day trying to help them if they don't even respect me.

@temporaryerror: don't trust the key pads either. easy to put an overlay on them, that does the same thing when you push the buttons.

@summerbee: I've taken to doing that too. Found one that was fishy at a 7-11 told the clerk. Got my money from elsewhere.

@Razor512: I hate that we cant edit posts, makes it hard to correct spelling errors.

but anyway, a lot of new skimmers are becoming better designed and there putting a lot more work into them since there becoming a successful business model.

they even go through the trouble of PCB free builds in which all of the parts and connected together using thin wires soldered to the different parts and all of then is then placed on some tape then attached to the inside of the skimmer, that way the build can be reused and can take a number of shapes. (When I pulled the skimmer back a bit i left it like that and another customer actually pushed it back in place and used the machine)

If banks don't want to stick images offer their machines, then they at least need to make a check feature before the user can use the machine, like it will show them the card slot and various other parts of the machine and they have to answer yes or no if it looks like it or not and if not it will tell them to go report the machine to a worker.

@Duckula22: Banks make a good amount of their revenue from ATM fees, ie someone using their ATM that isn't one of their customers.
So, not going to happen.

Banks need to address this problem. I know my bank has, at some of their ATMs, a card slot that lights up/glows with a sign indicating this is what you are supposed to see.

Why couldn't they wire the area around the skimmer so that an alarm goes off or the machine shuts down if its tampered with?

@JGKojak: The criminals have found ways around the light up ones, they simple use those plastic strips that allow light to travel from the real card reader, to the fake one to make it look more real. The only effective solution is to teach the public about this kind of crime and show people ways to protect them self.

@Duckula22: So how would you propose getting access? Swiping your ATM card?

@Razor512: editing may come as soon as the gawker hosting deal runs out

While I am a bit suspicious at times - I too pull on all the various parts to ensure that there isnt anything on it that might "come off". But for the pin I employ a bit of slight of hand. Simply appear to press 8 to 10 buttons alond the way pressing your actual pin. While this will work for most pads, admitedly there are pads that are obvious when being pressed. Dont forget to place your hand, thumb finger etc on the spot on the screen that shows when you have pressed a number.

So for example if your pin in 3528
Press 1432572986 only actually making contact with the ones that matter.

@summerbee:
I too check my ATM'S before I use them. Funny looks all around- even the BF looks at me like I'm crazy.
Safer to maul an ATM than to lose my Paycheck to some goon.

@Vandelay Import Export: Yeah, I think you've put your finger on the problem in this proposal right there.

If that is how long it normally takes to put on these types of devices, why aren't more people caught?

@cash_da_pibble: I do the same thing. I also got in the habit of putting my other hand over my hand that's entering my pin number. That way it will block any possible cameras above it.

@Vandelay Import Export: Actually, after hours, the Bank of America near me does require you to swipe your card to gain access. There's usually a cop nearby, though.. so I'm assuming that it's skimmer-free. I never even thought about it, though.

All this time I was never worried about such a thing. I'm worried about being kidnapped or murdered - now my ATM being skimmed...thank you Consumerist, now I have one more thing to fear.

I do smile and stick my tongue out at the cameras too.

@Megladon: I think there have been some skimmers that have a fake touch pad over the real one to record PINs.

Articles like this make me never plan to use an ATM ever again. In fact, I actually don't ever use ATMS. I pull any needed cash out of checking account when I use my debit card at the grocery store. Much safer that way (I hope) and no fees, ever.

@Razor512: What I find sad is you let a guy use it after finding out it was a skimmer. Yes it may be a pain but you should always take the time to alert the bank or the police or the mall security so they can take action.

@diangelo: I sometimes stop by the bank on my way to work since it is on the way to work and when it comes to things like lunch and stuff, I always buy with cash. So pretty much what I did was when i noticed the skimmer, I pulled it down and I went in and told one of the workers at the desk about there being a skimmer on it and they pretty much blew off what I was saying, (you know the standard, thing that workers do, they act like there listening but don't really care), so after I told them, I headed straight to work so I wouldn't be late. Then the next day, the skimmer was still there, then the day after that it was still there, then finally it was not there anymore.

When you see something like a skimmer on a ATM it is not like you can take it off completely and bring it to a worker, thats a 1 way ticket to being accused of putting it there because just like how easy it is for them to not listen to you, it is just as easy for them to misunderstand and really ruin your day or week.

PS out of the entire mall theres only like 1 security guard and he is almost never anywhere to be found. And whats really sad is that there so many security cam and no one monitoring them. ATM crimes are growing rampant and the banks are not even taking the time to teach their workers or customers about these risk, and even worst, the workers don't listen when a problem is reported to them.

@Vandelay Import Export: and they even found a skimmer on one of the doors, with a camera at the atm capturing people's pins later.

@Rat_Race: this is true too, forgot about that ... i cover my pin too.