I don't usually post outside 'The Kingdom' Of Caerlon, but I came across this in our local newspaper today and with the many folks here on MB, I thought this very important to post here, for your financial protection. I was very concerned when I read this article this evening. Thank you for reading this. Harold
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Consumer alert: Portable 'skimmers' steal your identification (Wednesday, April 27, 2005) Next time you go to an ATM or a pay-at-the-pump gas station, make sure there isn’t a “skimmer” attached that is recording your personal information and pin number. Granbury detective Mitch Galvan said identity thieves are attaching skimmers where people insert their cards at ATMs and gas pumps. It’s a machine that mirrors the faceplate on the ATM and gas pump and fits over the real faceplate. The skimmer scans all your personal information on the bank card or credit card while a nearby camera is recording you entering your pin number. “If you are not sure, gently pull on the front of the area where you slide the card in,” Galvan said. “If it’s a skimmer, it will come off and there will be a small hole nearby that conceals the camera. “Anywhere that has a place to slide a card into is vulnerable,” Galvan said.
There are also portable skimmers. “The crooks are recruiting waiters and waitresses and providing them with portable skimmers that they carry around in their apron or pocket,” Galvan said.
Galvan said the people that identity thieves recruit to swipe the cards, make between $50 and $100 per swipe. “Identity theft techniques, scams and plots are changing almost weekly,” said Granbury police chief Bruce Espin. “Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation,” he added.
Galvan said people searching to nab your personal information might still pack your trash into their vehicle on trash day, but it isn’t as common. He said technology has made the same information accessible with much less work. Espin said the fact is that everybody’s personal information is vulnerable. “Basically, we’re living in a system that is not secure,” Espin said. “Identity theft is a growing trend that society will have to deal with. “There is not a system created that will really keep our identity secure,” he added. As a result, people need to do all they can to protect their information from ending up in the wrong hands. It’s predicted that millions of people have been affected by identity theft, Espin said. But Espin said some people are victims beyond their control. But others can take steps to avoid such vulnerability.
“There are ways that people can protect themselves,” Galvan said. “Some of it is out of your hands, but a lot of it can be caught if people pay attention.” Galvan said living in a small community does not make residents immune in any way to the often described epidemic of identity theft.
Some of the things to be aware of include car theft. Police warn to make sure you take steps to avoid car theft. “A lot of car thieves are not geared toward trying to find personal information,” Galvan said.
He said thieves look for driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and checkbooks.
“All those items are prime and has your information on it,” Galvan said. Police warn not to put mail in your mailbox. “Take it to the post office,” Galvan warns. “People drive around communities toward the end of the month looking for the flags up on the mail boxes. They usually think there are checks inside or some personal information.” Also, don’t have checks sent to your home address. Have them sent to the bank or a secure location. Galvan notes it’s a bad idea to have a lot of information printed on the check. Galvan said some people might think that if they have bad credit they are exempt from identity theft. But Galvan said those people should not get their hopes up. He said it just means if their identities are stolen, the thief might not use their credit to buy a car or mortgage a house. But it doesn’t mean they won’t buy a new 52-inch television from an appliance store.
Another useful tip is don’t sign the back of your credit cards or check cards. Galvan suggests writing “See ID” with permanent marker on the signature line. “Clerks don’t ask for identification because they don’t want the hassle,” Galvan said. “But when they do ask, they are helping make sure someone’s not spending your money.” So what does the future hold as the government tries to circumvent the identity theft epidemic? Espin predicts retina and fingerprint scanning with every credit and banking transaction “in the very near future.”
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We have been using the "SEE ID" trick for over a year. I have learned if someone doesn't want to accept the card that you just ask for the manager, and his/her manager and go up the chain until somebody just says "okay, let me see your ID" and once they see it's you, they take the card. If they ask why, tell them that you've had a card stolen before and that the bank told you to write that on the card. People don't question that statement, even if they get the manager.

Cat

When we were living in BC, there was a gas station that I used to go to where a couple people working there had tried a similar scam.

I never lost any money out of my accounts, I think I'd just always covered the PIN pad.

Slapnuts and Cat A, thank you for your responses. If I have helped to make even one person aware of this potential for fraud, then I am satisfied. Seeing all the folks who 'viewed' this thread - thank you for reading. And Slap & Cat - you had some excellent points - thank you! It seems that there is no end to the ways some peeps will dream up to separate you from what's in your wallet (or purse)!! It's pathetic. Such a waste of good talent. Myself, I would never have thought that just a simple act like swiping your card to pay for something could possibly endanger my financial health. Ha! I paid for some gas yesterday and as usual, pulled out the ole credit card to pay and just before putting it into the slot.. checked it out first! Geez! But it was safe. I'm sure there will be other alerts as these THIEVES dream up new tricks...
Harold