ATM

6 Easy Ways to Protect Your Debit Card From Skimmers

Dr Penny Pincher — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 08:30:09 +0000

You've no doubt heard news reports about debit card skimmers being found at certain retail or banking establishments. Card skimmers can be installed at ATMs, restaurants, gas payment terminals, and even store check-out lines. The phony equipment is small and can be hard to spot. Some card skimmers even include a phony keypad that fits over the real one to steal your PIN.

Your debit card account number can be stolen if you swipe your card in a skimmer. Unlike credit card transactions, debit cards may not offer much protection against fraudulent purchases. Your checking account could be emptied, and you might not be able to reverse the charges.

Your best defense against debit card skimmers is vigilance and awareness. Here are a few ways to protect yourself.

1. Spot a skimmer before you swipe

When using a card terminal, look it over before you swipe. It can be difficult to spot a well-hidden skimmer, but some clues can help.

If the terminal you are about to use does not match the other ones at the location, you might be looking at a skimmer. Number pads that look mismatched or are an odd size are a red flag. Press on the card receiver and wiggle the keypad; skimmers are designed to be retrieved quickly by thieves and may have loose parts. A keypad that is sitting on top of the machine rather than flush with the surface of it can also be a sign of a skimmer. If you're at a gas station, look at the card scanner at the pump you're about to use; ensure that the security tape is still intact over the panel before you insert your card.

When you're choosing a payment terminal or ATM, go for one that is close to store employees, a security camera, or is in an open and well-lit area. These are less likely to have been tampered with by thieves that do not want to be noticed. (See also: 10 Tips to Save You from an ATM Skimmer)

2. Dip, don’t swipe

If you have the option to insert your card into the payment terminal rather than swipe, do that. Chip cards, otherwise known as EMV cards, are much more secure since they do not pass your actual account numbers to the retailer. Even if someone steals the numbers from an EMV transaction, it is not useful to thieves since a unique number is generated for each transaction.

Some stores have not yet adopted chip readers and will still ask you to swipe your card through a magnetic card reader. If you swipe your debit card instead of dipping it, you risk your account information to skimmers. Some thieves have taken to "shimming" rather than skimming; tampering with chip reader machines by installing a paper shim to block the chip reader, forcing people to swipe their cards instead. If in doubt, pay with cash. (See also: 4 Ways Chip Credit Cards Make Life Easier)

3. Don’t let your debit card out of your sight

At restaurants, the normal payment procedure is to give your debit or credit card to the waitstaff who takes it away to swipe it. If you hand your debit card to someone else to process, they can run your card through a second card reader and steal your information. Or, someone could simply write down your account number and the security code from your card and use it for fraudulent transactions. The best security practice is to never let your debit card out of your sight and pay for your restaurant meals with cash.

4. Monitor bank statements

You can monitor your bank statements regularly to spot suspicious activity early in case a criminal does get your account information by skimming your debit card. If you do find fraudulent transactions, work with your bank to close your account right away and minimize your losses. Your bank may offer automatic account alerts to make monitoring your account easier.

5. Withdraw cash at the bank, not the ATM

I prefer to withdraw cash at the bank a couple of times a month instead of stopping by an ATM every time I need cash. I show my driver’s license at the bank to make a withdrawal — no debit card is required. Not only does getting cash at the bank eliminate the risk of debit card skimming, but you avoid any ATM fees as well.

6. Pay with a credit card instead of debit card

Of course, the best way to protect your debit card from skimmers is not to use your debit card. It is safer to use a credit card for transactions since credit cards offer protection from fraudulent purchases. If you don’t want to pay interest to use a credit card, simply pay off the credit card balance every month. Using a credit card provides a barrier between your checking account and thieves who could skim your account information from your debit card. (See also: 4 Reasons Credit Is Safer Than Debit)

Another option is to pay with cash to avoid the risk of skimming altogether. I use an envelope budgeting system and pay for all food expenses with cash. This greatly reduces the number of card transactions I make each month, and therefore reduces my risk of having account information stolen by a skimmer.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Dr Penny Pincher of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Big Ways ATMs Are Changing

Damian Davila — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 08:30:16 +0000

Now that you can pay with Facebook Messenger and selfies, it seems that you no longer have reason to ever visit your bank's ATM again. In an effort to entice consumers back to the ATM, financial institutions are making serious investments to upgrade cash dispensers in big ways. Here's what you can soon expect coming to an ATM near you.

1. Deposit checks without an envelope

There was a time when payday meant a mad rush to the nearest ATM to deposit a check so it would clear on time to make your payments. Back then, you had to properly insert your check in an envelope and fill out a deposit slip. Nowadays, more and more banks are offering no-envelope ATMs with insertion slots for checks. Equipped with modern scan technology, these new ATMs can accommodate a stack of several checks and provide instant proof of your deposit with a printout of your check on a printed receipt.

2. Get cash using your smartphone

Using the smartphone app from your bank, you may be able to get "cardless cash" from select ATMs. Here's how it works: Open the app, set up a pre-staged withdrawal to create a QR code, and scan that code at participating ATMs to collect your cash. Some bank apps generate a code instead of a QR code and you punch in that code at the ATM.

Besides saving you time, cardless cash also keeps your ATM card safe from illegally-installed skimming devices. Since your card isn't read, there's no way for somebody to get a hold of your card's number, expiration date, or security code. (See also: Credit Card Fraud and How to Avoid It)

3. Interact with an eATM — not an ATM

In a bigger push to further integrate their ATMs with smartphone apps, banks are working to redesign their cash dispensers to have the look and feel of a giant tablet. The objective is that the ATM screen looks and feels like a natural extension of your bank's smartphone app, turning the ATM into an eATM.

Some banks are currently experimenting with the near field wireless communication feature in smartphones so that customers won't need a code or QR code to get cash in the future. Imagine just holding your smartphone up to the ATM and getting instant cash. Another feature that some banks are experimenting with is the ability to allow videoconferencing with bankers, effectively expanding the range of services that customers can receive at an eATM.

4. Withdraw larger amounts without talking to a bank teller

One reason why fewer people were visiting ATMs was that they often couldn't take out enough cash to cover a major expense, such as rent or a car loan payment. Many banks took notice of this through customer feedback and are now allowing customers to withdraw larger amounts than the regular limits. For example, one bank in New York City is letting its customers withdraw up to $3,000 at ATMs located in bank branches and during branch hours. That's three times what most banks in NYC allow, and six times the regular limit in other cities.

5. Withdraw custom amounts

ATMs typically only pay out in $20 bills. But sometimes, you just need $16 to pay a friend or don't even have $20 in your account until the next paycheck comes around. In the near future, more ATMs will give customers a break and let them customize their withdrawals entirely. (See also: 5 Sales Strategies Your Bank Uses to Make Money)

6. Recycle cash deposits

Few things are as frustrating as standing in line for 20 minutes to withdraw cash to pay a bill that is due in a few hours, only to find out that the ATM is out of bills! Many banks are looking at ways to recycle cash deposits to minimize the possibility of the machine running out of bills. This feature is critical for banks promising their clients that they can customize their withdrawals.

As the ATM gets a much needed upgrade and leverages features from your smartphone, keep an eye on upcoming changes to your bank's ATMs that can help you streamline your finances — and make sure not to lose your smartphone!

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

4 Credit Card Transactions That Don't Earn Rewards

Holly Johnson — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 08:31:17 +0000

Rewards credit cards can be a great way of earning a little something extra for the purchases you make every day. Most rewards cards dole out 1–5 points for each dollar you spend. But there are a few transactions that never earn rewards. Keep these in mind so you don't end up disappointed when you look at your rewards statement later on (and instead try the strategies that follow to boost your rewards earnings).

1. Cash advances at an ATM

If you use your credit card for a cash advance at an ATM, you are running up a balance on your credit card. Unfortunately, that balance won't earn you any rewards points — or any love from your card issuer. Whenever you take out a cash advance from an ATM, you should plan on paying a higher interest rate immediately on the advance amount, as well as a cash advance fee of 2–5 percent and any fees that the individual ATM charges.

2. Cash advance checks you receive in the mail

Those cash advance checks you receive in the mail might seem like an awesome deal. You write the check out to yourself, cash it, and the money is yours. Unfortunately, that money will need to be paid back, along with fees, of course.

You can expect to pay the same fees as you pay for withdrawing cash from an ATM, except for the ATM fee. You'll still pay a transaction fee and a higher interest rate on your cash advance, though. There will be no grace period before interest starts accruing on the cash advance, either. And just like a cash advance from an ATM, you won't earn any rewards for the privilege.

3. Balance transfers

In a perfect world, we could all earn millions of credit card points by endlessly transferring balances. We could transfer the same balance back and forth for years, earning oodles of welcome bonuses and points for our spending.

But in this world, you never earn rewards on balance transfers. Banks would simply lose too much money if they offered this option, so they don't.

While you don't earn rewards with balance transfers, that doesn't mean they're not valuable. Many of the best 0 percent APR cards charge no interest on the amount transferred for 12–21 months. You can gain huge savings on interest while you pay off your debt.

And while it's usually best not to use a balance transfer card to make new purchases, if you do have to do that, some balance transfer cards offer rewards on purchases. (See also: 6 Hidden Dangers of Balance Transfers)

4. Purchases made with points

When your credit card has a rewards program, it's easy to conflate your cash spending with rewards purchases. But if you use points for a purchase (instead of cash), you won't earn any points when you buy. The bank only wants to reward you for spending actual money on the card.

Here's an example. Imagine you have a travel credit card and you decide to book an excursion through the card's travel portal. You set your sights on a snorkeling tour in Grand Cayman, and find you have the option to pay with points or to fork over $70 per person.

If you pay with cash, you'll absolutely earn rewards for the purchase. But if you turn in your points instead, you'll be out of luck. (See also: Once-In-A-Lifetime Experiences I've Earned With Credit Card Rewards)

How to boost your rewards over time

Fortunately, there are plenty of safe, reliable methods to beef up your point balances on your favorite rewards credit card. Best of all, nothing we're about to suggest involves paying interest or upfront fees at all.

Here are four ways to earn more rewards over time.

1. Use your rewards credit card for everyday purchases

The best way to earn more rewards isn't complicated. By simply using your card for all your regular purchases (think gas, groceries, and miscellaneous), you can earn a ton of points over time. If you spend $1,000 on your card every month and earn an average 2 percent back, for example, you'll rack up $20 per month in rewards — or $240 per year. (See also: How to Save an Extra $1,094.86 a Year)

2. Pay all your bills on credit

Another strategy to boost your rewards is to put your regularly occurring expenses on your credit card. Think of anything you have on automatic payments — life insurance, cellphone bill, utility payments. If they're currently set up to be paid via debit automatically, you could earn more rewards by setting them up on your favorite credit card instead. Just be sure to check with the provider to make sure you won't have to pay a fee for using credit. (See also: Paying Your Bills With a Credit Card)

3. Shop through online portals when possible

Many rewards card issuers offer their own online shopping portals that make earning rewards even easier. You'll need to log in to the portal, then you can click through to major retailers to earn extra points for every dollar you spend. Options vary and deals change often, but you can usually earn at least one or two bonus points for every dollar you spend on that card.

Sometimes you'll see deals for as many as 30 bonus points. Merchants include online stores like Kohls, Best Buy, Macy's, and many others. (See also: 5 Ways to Earn Cashback Rewards Without Extra Spending)

Of course, if you want to make your rewards card work for you, avoid running a balance. While earning 1–5 percent back on your purchases is certainly appealing, those rewards will disappear quickly if you're forking over the average credit card interest rate.

When it comes to credit, tread carefully and only charge what you can afford to repay. If you wind up in debt in pursuit of rewards, you'll regret it.

This article is from Holly Johnson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Ways to Make Sure You Never Pay an ATM Fee

Carrie Kirby — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:00:18 +0000

That little fee tacked onto your withdrawal when you use an automatic teller machine outside your bank network is not only annoying — it's a terrible financial move. Just a few dollars might seem insignificant at the time, but what you may not think about is that ATM fees can make up an obscenely high percentage of the money you're withdrawing. For instance, if you are taking out $50 and you pay a $2.50 fee to the bank whose machine you are using, plus a $2 fee to your own bank, you just paid an additional 9% to access your own money. You wouldn't take out a mortgage at that rate, so don't pay that rate for your own cash!

My husband used to be a serial out-of-network ATM user. I formulated this list of tips to help him avoid the insidious habit.

1. Fill Up at 50%

Just like driving mountain roads with the empty tank light blazing, walking around town with an empty wallet is tempting fate. Set an optimal amount of cash to carry at all times — say, $50 — and when your wallet dips below $25, plan a stop at your bank's ATM to refill.

If you tend to spend cash just because it's in your wallet, be craftier about your emergency reserve. Keep it in your car glove compartment, zipped into an inside pocket of your jacket, or in some other out-of-sight place. And if you don't like stopping at the bank when your backup runs out, keep a backup backup, like a drawer at home with $100 for replenishing.

2. Carry a Checkbook

Sure, it's super dorky to have to ask an establishment if they'll take a check. But it's better than paying high rates to access your own money. Stash a checkbook in your bag or the glove compartment.

3. Get Cash Back Instead

This is my favorite move in a cash emergency: I stop in a drugstore or grocery store, make a purchase, pay with my debit card, and ask for cash back, which is usually provided with no fee. I try to pick up something I needed anyway — say, envelopes. But even if I just buy myself a small treat, like a candy bar, as long as it's under $2, I still come out ahead.

4. Check Your Bank's Online Location Finder

Just because you're in an unfamiliar area doesn't mean you have to go to the first ATM you see. If you use a large bank, and you need cash while traveling, a few clicks can let you know where the nearest in-network cash machine is.

5. Find Out if Your Bank Has Partners

One reason I have kept my checking account with Citi through several moves is that they have a deal with 7-Eleven, so that I can use the machines inside the stores without paying a fee.

6. Change Banks or Get an Additional Checking Account

If your current bank lacks ATMs near your work or home, maybe it's time for a switch. You could pick a bank that has ATMs convenient to you, or choose one of the institutions that reimburses you for other banks' fees so that you can use any ATM for free. A lot of online-only banks do this. But read the fine print: Many require you to maintain a minimum balance or meet other criteria in order to get the fees reimbursed.

7. Do Your Homework Before Traveling Abroad

If you thought a few dollars in out-of-network fees were bad, wait until you get back from a European vacation and read your bank statement. You will probably find an international transaction fee and possibly also a currency exchange fee tacked on — in addition to the normal fees from your bank and the bank that owns the ATM. Ouch.

Before leaving on a trip, you can open a checking account with one of the rare banks that reimburses these foreign fees.

8. Don't Be Shy About Your Predicament

My husband is a lot better about avoiding ATM fees now, but when he pays one, it's often because he was meeting a friend at a cash-only establishment and was too embarrassed to make the friend wait while he solved his cash problem. I say, let friends know that you don't want to pay an ATM fee. Borrow the $10 you need from your friend and pay him back tomorrow, or PayPal or Venmo him the money on the spot, or just ask to switch to the restaurant next door that accepts credit cards. After all, if you raise your friend's ATM fee awareness, you'll be doing him a favor in the long run.

What do you do to avoid ATM fees?

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Carrie Kirby of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Would You Dance to Avoid a Fee?

Meg Favreau — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:48:32 +0000

That's the question Fidelity asked...sort of. More specifically, they asked ATM users — while they were at the ATM — if they'd rather pay a fee or dance to get their cash. The video below shows those who danced. I don't know if these are real ATM users or if the video was casted (I always assume these things are casted, but hey, I can be kind of a cynic). Either way, it's fun to watch people bust out some sweet dance moves on the street — and it's always good to avoid an ATM fee.

Video Link: Would You Dance Instead of Paying ATM Fees?

So...would you dance to avoid paying ATM fees?

This article is from Meg Favreau of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Is Bank of America’s $5 Monthly Debit Card Fee Just the Beginning?

Paul Michael — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:36:34 +0000

In a word, yes.

Consider this phrase — “Take money from businesses, they’ll just turn around and take it from the customers.”

I’ve heard that, and many variations of it, several times over the last few years. Now it looks like it’s coming true for all of us.

It’s no secret that banks make a lot of their money from fees. Whether it’s late payment penalties, interest rate hikes, ATM fees, money-wiring transactions, or any number of other transactions, fees are the bread and butter of the banking industry.

These fees seemed to be going away, or getting vastly reduced, as banks tried to outdo each other in the battle for your hard-earned money. Free checking was suddenly the norm, and then banks would offer even more incentives (free iPods, luggage, shotguns, and good old cash) in an effort to get you on board.

Of course, nothing lasts forever, and the free checking benefits we’ve all enjoyed for many years have started to suffer the death of a thousand cuts. Slowly but surely, free checking is going away and being replaced by certain terms and conditions that give you certain free features IF you maintain a set minimum balance, have a significant number of direct deposits, and so on.

In fact, you can actually avoid Bank Of America’s new debit card fee if maintain a minimum balance of $20,000. (Once again, we see wealth being rewarded.) You can also avoid the fee by simply using your debit card as an ATM card only. (See also: 4 Ways to Beat Debit Card Fees)

So Why Did This New Fee Appear?

Well, it’s a direct result of a bill passed by congress that was supposed to save consumers money. Of course, it never works out that way, does it?

Banks have been making billions of dollars on swipe fees for many years now. These are fees charged to the merchant every time you swipe your debit card, and they average around 44 cents per swipe.

Or at least, they did. Merchants lobbied against the fees and won, saying that by lowering the price of these swipe fees, we, the customers, would get lower prices on goods and services.

But when they passed the law, they didn’t think of the ramifications of the ripple effect. It’s also known as “unintended consequences.” By cutting these fees in half, billions of dollars have been taken away, annually, from the banks. Ouch. You know as well as I do that those losses are not going to be absorbed by the banks. The CEO, Brian Moynihan, isn’t going to pay for it out of his $950k salary or his $9 million in stock awards.

So who pays? You’ve guessed it — we’re the ones who pick up the tab. And the $5 per month debit card charge is only just the beginning; I guarantee it.

Bank of America Is Not the Only One Raising Fees

JP Morgan Chase customers in Wisconsin have felt the pinch, with $3 per month being deducted for debit card usage. Sun Trust (Georgia) and Regions Financial Corp. (Alabama) are also charging $4 to $5 per month.

And Wells Fargo recently announced that it will test a $3 per month debit card fee in five states — Oregon, New Mexico, Nevada, Georgia, and Washington.

What Does the Future Hold?

Fees. Lots of them.

Right now, with the financial institutions just starting to roll out fees, you obviously have the option to walk away. But that won't be an option for long. If you want the conveniences that a typical bank offers, you’re going to have to start paying for them. Banks across the U.S. will follow Bank Of America’s lead, because they’re losing out if they don’t. And any banks who don’t charge the fee will no doubt find other ways to make up the losses. You’ll see free checking replaced by checking that requires maintenance fees. You’ll get dinged if you go below a certain balance, or if you make more than a set number of purchases with your debit card each month.

There will be tiered plans — $3 a month for 50 swipes, $15 for unlimited swipes. And why not? The cell phone industry is all about tiered pricing. And you’ll have to pay for the privilege of online banking, automatic bill payments, even checking your balance on your phone. This is the future, and if everyone’s doing it, so we really don’t have an option other than to remove ourselves from the banking system and go back to the stone-age. Anyone for a mattress stuffed with cash?

And What About the Merchants Who Said They’d Cut Prices?

That’s a tough one to prove. Walmart has been rolling back prices for years, long before this bill came into effect. Target, Home Depot, Best Buy, you name it — they constantly claim to be slashing prices, so how can we tell if those savings are being passed on to us?

Truth is, as consumers, we can’t. I’m not saying that the big corporations are going back on their word to pass on savings to the customers, I just can’t prove that they are. I suspect the reality is somewhere in the middle, with some savings being passed on to us, and some money going back into the wage packets of CEOs and senior management.

Sadly, it’s just another example of the consumer being at the bottom of the hill…and we all know what rolls down hill.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Tips to Save You from an ATM Skimmer

Paul Michael — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:00:09 +0000

If you don’t yet know the term “skimmer,” put it in your vocabulary. The skimmer is becoming more and more widespread, and most of us will, sooner or later, come into contact with one. If you don’t have your wits about you, it could cost you a bunch of cash.

As technology gets more advanced, so do the crooks trying to take advantage of it. And, in turn, us. The ATM has always been a prime piece of real estate for thieves. You’re exposed, you’re handling money, and you have your back to the world. But it’s a dangerous game for criminals to play, as they too are exposed and risk being caught, or being seen.

These days, it’s far better to use those advances in technology to do the dirty work for them. The skimmer is the direct result of it.

A skimmer is usually composed of two sections. The first attaches to the card slot, usually covering it completely. The second is a camera, which can be very close to the card slot or some distance away, at the top of the ATM. The card reader records the electronic data from your ATM card, which the thief can use to make an exact copy of it. The camera is there to record your PIN. Whichever one the thief employs, they are not impossible to spot. In fact, some are downright clumsy. But, just like fake money, you need to be aware at all times.

Below is a picture of a typical skimming device. There are hundreds of different varieties out there, made to match different machines.

Photo courtesy of Brian Krebs. For more photos, check out these two additional posts, here and here, from Krebs on Security.

As you can see, it can be quite convincing. To be fair, some are fairly sketchy, others have been molded professionally and look very good. But they never look perfect (at least, not yet) and that’s something you have on your side. But what you also need is some basic, honest-to-goodness suspicion. Remember, this is your money and you should never take any ATM at face value. Here are some tips I’ve collected from various news sources, both local and national (CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX), and sites including Lifehacker, The Consumerist, Boing Boing, eHow, and Gothamist.

(What’s even more disturbing is that when I typed in ATM Skimmer, Google tried to finish the sentence with “for sale,” meaning an AWFUL LOT of people out there are trying to buy them. They’re available for as little as $2000, and I could buy one right now. Google also returned results on how to make an ATM skimmer, which I am not going to print here, obviously. But with the internet giving thieves access to all the information they’d ever need from the comfort of home, you need to double the guard.)

1. Trust your instincts.

If anything, anything at all, looks out of place on an ATM, don’t use it. If you see a wire poking out, or the plastic on the card reader doesn’t quite match, or there appears to be some unusual wear and tear around the card slot, walk away. It could be fine, but why take a risk?

2. Look for mirrors, leaflet holders or anything else around the ATM.

The machine should be free from anything like that, so add-ons are another huge red flag. They hide cameras behind these devices.

3. Guard your PIN carefully.

As most skimmers require two pieces of information from you, the PIN is something you can at least stop them from getting. You may seem a little paranoid to anyone waiting in line behind you, but who cares? Just cover your actions by cupping one hand over the numbers as your other hand enters them. It’s rudimentary but it works.

4. Take advantage of the debit card “cash back” feature.

When you’re running low on cash, and a grocery or convenience store will give you cash back if you pay for your purchase with a debit card. Simply hit the amount of cash you need. It’s free, saving you the $2-$3 ATM fee, and it’s safer.

5. Become a creature of habit and use the same ATM each time.

This won’t protect you from encountering a skimmer, but you’re much more likely to notice something fishy if you are familiar with the machine.

6. Look for ATMs with video surveillance.

These machines have extra security and this additional level of protection deters thieves from installing the skimming devices.

7. Beware of ATMs that are off the beaten track.

The thief will have more opportunity to install a skimmer on a machine that’s out of the way. If you can, use an ATM inside the branch — these are almost impossible to manipulate. The portable ATMs, like you find in gas stations, are also very easy to mess with. I stay away from them unless I have no alternatives.

8. Don’t be afraid to poke and prod the ATM.

If something looks odd, investigate. These skimming devices are designed to be removed easily an quickly. If the thief can take it off, so can you.

9. NEVER use an ATM if someone is offering to help you with it.

That may seem really obvious, but thieves can dress as technicians, bank tellers, or pose as another customer. Imagine an old lady asking for help, maybe asking if she can see how you use the machine so that she knows what to do. Or a guy in a very official uniform telling you the machine has just been cleaned, inspected, or refilled. These are all signs that you should walk away.

10. Finally, if you do suspect something, let the local branch, gas station, or store know.

It may be a false alarm, but you could prevent someone being ripped off who isn’t as vigilant as you are.

Snopes also has some great information on ATM skimmers. And The Consumerist offers the following pdf that outlines many more skimmers and the ways you can look out for them. I advise you all to read it and pass on the information in it, and this article.

Please, be careful, and if in doubt, walk away.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Five quick and simple scams that could happen to you today

Paul Michael — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:50:17 +0000

Any long-time readers of Wise Bread know that I like to keep up-to-date on hustles, scams and con jobs. They change all the time, and new ones are invented daily. A US version of the UK show The Real Hustle has been trying out some very simple but effective cons on the American public, and they’re getting away with some serious money. Watch, learn and stay alert. One of these could catch you out the next time you leave the office or home, even if it’s just to grab some quick cash from an ATM or a small bite to eat.

The ATM Hustle
Here, two ways to grab your cash at an ATM are outlined, and in both methods you never even know you’ve been the victim of a scam. The second version is more prevalent and has many variations as it requires no technology. Street teams work areas in busy cities, I was victim to a version of the second one about ten years ago in London. When using an ATM, keep your wits about you and if anything looks or feels suspicious, walk away.

The Laptop Switch-Off
Right now I’m on the hunt for a used laptop for my wife, so this one really caught my attention. If you’re a fan of Craigslist, you may be tempted by a used laptop at a great price. In this case, a $1000 Macbook for $500. But listen to that voice in your head, and realize that deals too good to be true usually are. When you buy a laptop, keep your eye on the machine at all times, test it thoroughly and most important, don’t hand over your cash until the actual laptop is in your possession.

The Café Manager Scam
This one is all about questioning authority, or in this case, never questioning it. In most cases, we believe what we are seeing and hearing because we have no reason not to. When a guy in a suit approaches you in a café or restaurant and says he is the manager, why wouldn’t you believe him? Big mistake. It just goes to show how far confidence can get you (hence, con man). At a restaurant table, there should be no reason at all to hand your credit card before the start of a meal, even if you’re ordering drinks. And if you want to open a tab with a card, do it at the bar.

The Bag Snatch
So simple and yet so effective. All it takes is a small distraction, just a conversation or someone asking the time, and your valuables are gone. Never put your bag down in a busy place, or if you do, keep one foot on the handle or strap.

The Distract & Conquer Con
Here, the con artists take advantage of the Good Samaritan syndrome. BY posing as tourists and asking for help, they’re able to get close to people and walk away with some very nice valuables. Again, keep these items on you, there’s no need to have a cell-phone laying out on the table when jacket pocket will do the job just as well.

You can find many more examples of hustles and con jobs at TruTV.com, under The Real Hustle. Stay safe and aware folks.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: