Skimming scam

Tips from the official website #ScamGoodbye.#ScamGoodbye is an information campaign, the purpose of which is to educate Ukrainians about the safety rules of cashless and online payments. The #FraudGoodbye project, organized by the National Bank of Ukraine, united more than 60 partners around the information campaign - these are banks, payment systems, law enforcement agencies, mobile operators , online stores, logistics companies, utilities. We enlisted the support of our partners in order to share the basic rules of payment security with the largest possible audience.

Skimming is a type of fraud, when fraudsters copy information from a payment card using special devices that are installed on an ATM.
In the future, this allows them to make a duplicate payment card and steal money from the cardholder's account.

How do fraudsters make a copy of payment card data?

A special device is installed in the ATM card receiver.

What does such a fraudulent device look like?

It can be:

  • a thin plate that is inserted inside the card holder or
  • cover that is attached to the ATM card reader.

But a copy of data from the fraudster's payment card is not enough, a PIN code is also required.

To steal a PIN code, fraudsters use:

  • micro camera, in order to see on video what PIN code the victim will enter;
  • overlay keyboard for reading the PIN code. Fraudsters use it less often, since the micro camera is much cheaper and more inconspicuous.

How to avoid skimming?

  • Compare the appearance of the ATM with its screensaver.
  • Cover the keyboard when entering the PIN code.
    In such a way that it is impossible to spy on him with the help of a micro video camera.
  • Connect the service of informing about operations using the card.
    This will allow you to block the card in time, in case of fraudulent transactions with your account.
  • Set individual cash withdrawal limits that match your payment behavior.
    The fraudster will not be able to withdraw the entire amount at once, you will have time to block your card.
  • Give preference to payment cards with a chip, which have a more complex protection algorithm, unlike cards with a magnetic stripe.

What should you do if you used an ATM and only later noticed a third-party device?

  • Immediately change the PIN code for the card, but not at the ATM where you noticed a third-party device or block the card.
  • Notify the bank about the ATM on which third-party devices are installed, using the telephone number indicated on the ATM.