Officer makes an arrest in a card skimming case

 Is your money safe from scammers?

On Mar. 27, Nebraska State Patrol stopped a vehicle after it was following too closely. The officer questioned the driver and the passenger on where they were going and they both gave separate answers. The deputy decided to ask for permission to search the vehicle and the driver gave consent. Deputies found a credit card skimmer, multiple gift cards and thousands of dollars in the vehicle. It is believed that they didn’t install any skimmers in the Lincoln area. A similar stop happened in Lexington. A state trooper stopped a vehicle for having expired plates. Once stopped, the officer smelled marijuana and decided to search the vehicle. Marijuana and card-skimming devices were found. 

Skimming has been a growing problem in America. Consumers and financial institutions lose an estimated $1 billion from skimming, which involves using card readers on point-of-sale terminals to create fake cards for unauthorized purchases. Skimming devices range in complexity and cost. Low-grade skimmers can be produced for a few hundred dollars, mostly assembled in a 3D printer, and use a small hidden camera to record PINs. Higher-grade skimmers can cost a few thousand dollars and be very difficult to spot. In general, it is a good idea to cover the point of purchase terminal when typing in the PIN. It is also a good idea to be aware of common PINs. Common pins include repeating numbers, birthdays, birth years, numbers related to popular movies, patterns and numbers that are five or below. An increasing tactic, other than cameras, is the use of keyboard overlays. They are glued on top of the real keyboard and record PINs. It is very important to inspect card readers before using them even if it is awkward to take a few seconds to check the card reader. A few extra seconds in front of a cashier is better than having an unexpected bank charge. Check if anything feels loose, crooked or scratched. Pull on the corners of the keypad before entering the pin. Skimmers will often make card readers thicker but this may not be noticeable to most users. If a skimmer is found, it is important to report it to officers immediately. Be aware of skimmers and stay safe.

By: Stuart Cuateco