ATM Scam Alert !
The
following photographs clearly illustrate the resourcefulness, sophistication and
technical expertise possesed by today’s high-tech scam artists.
The
photographs illustrate two separate elements of a scam designed to both secretly
access information from an ATM card, and covertly observe the user’s keypad
entries.
The first
element involves the installation of an additional ATM card reader, carefully
designed to mount over the machine’s existing card-slot. When an ATM card is
inserted into the card-slot, the user activates the machine as he or she would
normally, removing the card at the conclusion of the transaction. However,
unbeknownst to the customer, the second card reader memorizes all of the card’s
information, thereby allowing the thieves to make a duplicate of the customer’s
card.
The
additional card reader is manufactured of material similar to the machine’s
other components, making detection difficult. Please notice that, as seen in
photos #1 and #2, the scamster’s card reader in this example partially obscures
an instructional label affixed immediately adjacent to the legitimate card
reader. Additionally, it appears that the scamster’s card reader is a slightly
different color than the machine, although such a slight variance would likely
go unnoticed, especially at night, when the area is illuminated with either
incandescent or fluorescent lamps.
The second
element of the scam borrows an advanced electronics ploy previously used in
casino cheating: A small video camera and radio transmitter are secretly placed
near the ATM, with the lens directed at the machine’s keypad and video screen.
Images of an ATM customer entering access codes, etc. are transmitted to a
remote receiver located as far as two hundred meters away, where the scamster
either videotapes the information, or simply writes the information down for
later use.
In our
photographic examples below, the camera is cleverly hidden in what appears to be
a pamphlet holder “conveniently” mounted for the customers on the wall adjacent
to the ATM. The pamphlet holder, quickly affixed to the wall by the scamster or
an accomplice with double-sided tape, would surely go unnoticed by all
unfamiliar with this scam (see photos #3 - #6).
Reports
indicate that scamsters’ cameras have been hidden elsewhere within ATM kiosks,
and some brazen scamsters are alleged to have candidly installed cameras at
ceiling level to mimic legitimate ATM security cameras. Keypad entries and
information displayed on ATM video screens can be targeted with a medium
telephoto lens, and the information radioed to a remote location.
Just
being aware of the possibilities can help us to avoid being scammed. Considering
the difficulty in locating hidden cameras and the possibility of scamster’s
cameras mounted to look like ATM security cameras, positioning ourselves to
cover our keypad entries and video screens, even when we are alone in a kiosk,
seems like a sensible precaution.
#2- Is there an
additional slot ?
#5-False pamphlet
box affixed to the ATM cubicle side
