Three different ATM skimmers were found this week and reported on blogs, raising the question of what the heck is going on considering these are supposed to be a rarity. First, our reader Dan found a skimmer on a WaMu/Chase ATM in LA. Gizmodo picked up the story and subsequently their reader Sean Seibel found a skimmer on a Chase ATM in Manhattan’s East Village. Then this kid Nick McGlynn found a setup similar to the one Sean did, also on a Chase ATM. Now, when our reader Dan took the credit-card snagging device skimmer to the police he said they, “got a big kick out of the skimmer, saying they’d never seen one in person.” Hmm… Let’s look at a bunch of sexy ATM skimming photos and figure out what’s up with all these skimmers cropping up…

Here are some tell-tale signs to look for:

• Slots that don’t fit (and can be removed!)
• Multiple mirrors – one could be hiding a camera that records your PIN
• Strange ATM error messages
• Trouble inserting or removing your card
• The ATM looks different from the other ATMs around it
• Dummy brochure boxes with hidden cameras on them

You can also find skimmers on gas pumps and Red Box DVD dispensers… really, practically anywhere there’s a card swipe and no one is around to watch.

Reader Finds Card Skimmer On Bank ATM [Consumerist]
Rogue’s Gallery Of ATM Skimmers [Consumerist]
Attack of the Card Skimmers: It’s Happening Right Here, Right Now [Gizmodo]
Credit Card Skimmer Photos [Nick McGlynn]