The Massachusetts researchers were able to skim a name, card number and expiration date off an RFID credit card with their device, which they built with about $150 worth of readily available electronics. The worry, of course, is that data transmitted wirelessly can be intercepted or easily accessed from an outside source. RFID cards allow for a "tap and go" style of payment because the information is transmitted wirelessly. In 2006, a team of Massachusetts researchers built a simple device to read the data on RFID-equipped credit cards. Skimmers who successfully obtain both your PIN number and debit information will transfer your data to a blank debit gift card, then use it at an ATM to make withdrawals. ATM withdrawals require the PIN number, but online retailers don't need it - and some of them don't ask for the debit/credit card security codes, either. If hackers or skimmers gain access to the information stored on your debit card's magnetic strip, they may be able to make purchases without bothering to discover your PIN. Security flaws have been discovered in some older ATM models, and if they're not updated, it's possible to access their sensitive data with a default administrator password. If the seller is irresponsible, the ATM could even retain a list of users along with their personal data. Unfortunately, there are even more ways for thieves to access your bank account via an ATM -and some of them don't even require skimming.Ĭan you guess what kind of credentials it takes to purchase an automated teller machine online? If you guessed "none whatsoever," you're right! All it takes is a quick look on eBay to see ATMs for sale that anyone could buy. If you notice that the keypad on your ATM seems to protrude oddly from the surface around it, or if you spy an odd color change between the pad and the rest of the ATM, it could be a fake. Just like the card skimmers fit over the ATM's true card slot, skimming keypads are designed to mimic the keypad's design and fit over it like a glove. Some ATM skimming schemes employ fake keypads in lieu of cameras to capture PIN numbers. Cameras could even be hidden in brochure racks. A pinhole or off-color piece of plastic could give away the camera's hiding place. Always pay attention to objects mounted on the ATM or located close by. That's where cameras come in - hidden on or near the ATMs, tiny spy cameras are positioned to get a clear view of the keypad and record all the ATM's PIN action.
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However, to gain full access to your bank account on an ATM, the thieves still need your PIN number.