What Is a Credit Card Skimmer?
According to consumer and digital safety expert Paige Hanson, co-founder of SecureLabs, “Skimmers are devices that fraudsters attach to payment terminals to steal credit and debit card data. You generally cannot see them. They usually are installed in high-traffic and unmonitored areas like ATMs and gas station pumps. There are cases where criminals also install tiny cameras or fake keypads to capture your PIN number, too.”
In simple terms, a skimmer is a hidden device that “reads” your card’s information as you insert or swipe it, without interrupting your normal transaction. The criminal then uses that captured data to:
- Create duplicate (cloned) cards for in-store purchases.
- Make fraudulent online purchases with your card number.
- Sometimes directly drain your account (especially with debit and EBT cards), if they’ve also captured your PIN.
Different environments use different types of skimmers:
- Fuel pumps: According to the FBI, skimmers at fuel pumps are often hidden inside the pump, attached to internal wiring. That means you may not see anything suspicious from the outside, even if you look closely.
- ATMs: ATM skimming devices can take the form of tiny pinhole cameras positioned to record your finger movements as you enter your PIN, or fake keypad overlays that sit on top of the real keypad and record every press. Some machines also have skimmers fitted along exposed cables on freestanding ATMs, like those at convenience stores or bars.
- POS terminals (including EBT): At checkout lanes, skimmers are usually “overlays” — devices that fit over the existing card reader slot or keypad. Many of these must be removed later by the criminal to download stolen data, but more advanced models can transmit card details wirelessly in real time.
Skimming is designed to be invisible. Your card still works. The receipt looks normal. The fraud only shows up days or weeks later on your statement — unless you know what to look for ahead of time.
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