ATM Card Skimmers and Hidden Cameras

Jax Federal Credit Union is committed to minimizing the potential for unauthorized ATM and Visa transactions on member share accounts. JAXFCU employs security measures to protect our members’ cards by quickly identifying potential card fraud. As a result of our security procedures, we regularly receive notices of suspicious transactions and lists of potentially compromised cards. A skimmer is one of the methods used by thieves to capture your card data.

Skimmers are temporarily mounted on ATMs in front of the standard card reader. A skimmer will grab the magnetic information from your card, storing it in the device’s memory. Usually, these items are placed on ATMs for just a few hours at a time before being retrieved by the thief.

A skimmer will read all of the account information stored electronically on the magnetic stripe of your ATM or debit card. If a camera has also been placed on the ATM, the camera will record your personal identification number (PIN) as you enter it on the keypad.

Some skimming devices don't interfere with the normal operation of the ATM. The skimmer is placed over the card reader but doesn’t block off the reader, and you will receive money when making a withdrawal. Other skimmers interfere with the ATM operation--the card is inserted or swiped, but it's not the ATM’s card reader, so the ATM isn't actually being used. The ATM may have instructions and seem to be innovative, but ultimately it will report a malfunction and no money will be dispensed.

Skimming doesn’t just happen at ATMs; it can also occur at cash registers. For example, when paying your restaurant bill with a credit card, a waiter/thief might--when the card is out of sight--pass the card through a small handheld skimmer and store the data for future use. Thus, it is important to check your account through online banking or your account statements to make sure there are no unauthorized purchases.

When you use an ATM, be alert and look for suspicious items. If an ATM seems to be malfunctioning, be cautious if someone offers to help you. Your “stuck” card may be skimmed by your helper! If something looks out of place, don’t use the ATM, and inform the machine owner of the situation. One person noticed a gap behind the metal faceplate of an ATM. A closer look revealed double-sided tape was all that kept the faceplate in place. Thinking it looked strange, the person pulled at the faceplate. It came right off, revealing an ATM skimming device.

This is a nationwide problem, and the U.S. Secret Service is involved in ATM skimming investigations. Secret Service agents are looking into a number of ways to combat skimming, including altering the design of ATMs and modifying the magnetic stripe technology.