CROMWELL, Conn. — When credit cards with chips made it more difficult for scammers to steal payment information, it didn’t take long for the criminals to pivot and create a new technique called “shimming.”
According to a release this week from the Connecticut Better Business Bureau, police in towns across the state have warned consumers about “skimming,” a method now used by scammers to harvest payment information. The criminal will place a device into an ATM or other bank card terminal, and when a victim swipes their card, it steals valuable information.
“While scammers continue to succeed with this tactic, skimmers don’t work for cards with newer chip technology. In addition, card skimmers are easy to notice because they are often bulky or wobbly,” the CT BBB says.
Unfortunately, scammers have adjusted and can now steal payment information off a chip card by "shimming".
The CT BBB says this technique involves scammers inserting a shim, “or a paper-thin, card-sized device with an embedded microchip and flash storage into the slot where you enter the chip side of your credit or debit card.”
When inserting a chip card at a terminal, the device copies and saves a victim’s payment information. Then, scammers typically return with a special card that collects the stolen information, including a victim’s PIN and card number. This information is used by criminals to make purchases with a victim’s account information, the CT BBB says.
In the release, the BBB offers several ways consumers can protect themselves from shimming.
First, keep a close eye on your bank and credit accounts. Review online statements often to ensure there are no suspicious charges, and if you see any, report them to your bank or credit card company immediately.
The BBB also encourages people to be wary if their card gets stuck in a chip reader, or if the chip reader has a “tighter than normal” grip on your card. That is a tell-tale sign that a shim is inside the terminal. Consider canceling your transaction and notifying the business.
Another tip involves using contactless payment methods, as they are not vulnerable to shimming. These include using “tap-and-go” features on your credit card instead of swiping or inserting your card. One can also use contactless mobile services such as Apple Pay or Samsung Pay to tap and pay, the CT BBB says.
Using cash is always a safe option when it comes to avoiding shimmers or skimmers. The CT BBB also recommends using ATMs in banks rather than “more vulnerable stand-alone machines.”
Lastly, “Don’t proceed if you feel resistance when the card is inserted,” the CT BBB says.
To learn more about e-skimming, one can click here. To look up a scam or help others avoid being scammed by reporting a con, one can access the BBB Scam Tracker.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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