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When I research ideas for this column, I can’t help but be amazed by what people will do to bilk strangers out of their hard-earned cash.
The latest technological scheme gaining traction is just astounding, and it’s actually been around for a while. Called “credit card skimming,” scammers place these devices at gas station pumps, ATMs, video rental kiosks — virtually any unattended place a consumer can swipe his or her credit or debit card. The skimmer grabs all your credit or debit card info from the magnetic strip, either storing it to be retrieved or sending it to the perpetrator remotely.
Some skimmers are bulky and easy to detect. Those are usually placed on the exterior of a machine. But now a smaller device, called a “shimmer,” has grown in prevalence. A shimmer is a microchip with flash storage inside the card reader, according to PC Mag. They are quite slim and hard to detect, as they are placed inside the card-reading device. Scammers retrieve the data using a special card, making it look like they are just performing a normal transaction.
Scary, huh?
So what can you do to protect yourself?
• One of the most obvious options is to use cash or pay in person whenever you can. Even at the bank, where security is most often a top priority, go inside to the teller if you want to withdraw funds from your account.
• Ask the places you frequent if they check for skimmers or shimmers, and if so, how often.
• Another option is to use services like Apple or Samsung Pay, which allow you to use your cell phone in transactions instead of your credit or debit card.
• Check your bank and credit card statements frequently for suspicious activity. If someone does steal your personal information, the sooner you can detect it, the better.
Can you hear me?
Another scam that’s been gaining popularity as of late sounds more like a former commercial slogan than a plot to steal your identity.
The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to consumers Monday about the “Can you hear me?” scam in which someone calling from an unfamiliar number will ask you that question, prompting you to respond with, “Yes.”
That little “yes” can cost you a world of trouble. The scammers record your voice and use your response to authorize purchases over the phone.
If someone calls you asking this simple question, don’t hesitate to hang up and report the phone number to the police and the bureau’s Scam Tracker at http://go.bbb.org/1LDOFO4.