The theft of payment card information using hidden electronic devices (skimmers) attached to ATMs, gas pumps, or point-of-sale terminals that secretly capture card data when victims swipe or insert their cards.
The theft of payment card information using hidden electronic devices (skimmers) attached to ATMs, gas pumps, or point-of-sale terminals that secretly capture card data when victims swipe or insert their cards.
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Skimming is a physical theft technique that has evolved significantly over decades. Criminals attach nearly invisible devices to legitimate card readers — at ATMs, gas pumps, retail terminals, or even restaurant payment devices — that capture card data as victims make normal transactions.
Modern skimmers are extremely sophisticated. Overlay devices fit perfectly over existing card readers, making them nearly impossible to detect visually. Shimming devices are paper-thin and inserted into the card slot itself to read chip card data. Bluetooth-enabled skimmers transmit data wirelessly.
Skimmers are often paired with hidden cameras or fake keypads that capture PIN entries. This combination gives criminals everything they need to clone cards or make unauthorized transactions.
In 2023, the Secret Service recovered skimming devices from ATMs across the northeastern US that were estimated to have captured data from over 100,000 cards. The devices were so thin they were invisible from the outside, and transmitted data via Bluetooth to nearby receivers.