How to Spot and Avoid Credit Card Skimmers

Criminals can easily capture your credit and debit card information with small devices called skimmers. Don't fall victim to these insidious attacks!

By: Max Eddy
PC Magazine, April 5, 2016

The moment I started seriously worrying about credit card and debit card skimmers wasn't when my entire bank account was transferred to Turkey, or when I had to get three credit cards in two months because of fraudulent charges. It was when I learned that stealing a credit card number is as easy as plugging in a magnetic strip reader into a computer and opening a word processor. Every swipe is read as a keyboard entry, with no extra setup required. More advanced devices to steal your information are installed by criminals directly on to ATMs and credit card readers. These are called skimmers, and if you're careful you can keep from being victimized by these insidious devices.