How Crooks Steal or "Skim" Your ATM Card

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Why do we suddenly want to watch The Departed? Anyway, after talking with the detective the Today show set up their own skimming operation in Times Square. Just about 1/2 of the people who used the ATM fell for a skimming box located just outside the door where the swipe pad that unlocks the door would normally be. Sad.—MEGHANN MARCO

You could be giving crooks your ATM card number and PIN without knowing it. How? Thieves install skimmers that read your card while you use an ATM. Everything goes smoothly, so you don’t even realize that your numbers have been stolen. The above clip is from the Today show and features a detective from Boston who demonstrates how the technology works.

Why do we suddenly want to watch The Departed? Anyway, after talking with the detective the Today show set up their own skimming operation in Times Square. Just about 1/2 of the people who used the ATM fell for a skimming box located just outside the door where the swipe pad that unlocks the door would normally be. Sad.—MEGHANN MARCO

Scam Proof Your Life [MSNBC]

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