ARE YOU THE NEXT VICTIM OF ATM CARD SKIMMING SCAM?

With drawing cash from an ATM in the market before going shopping, and handing over your debit card at petrol pumps and restaurants might be convenient, but it can cost you more than you think. According to the Delhi Police, in May lakhs were fraudulently withdrawn from a Khan Market ATM with card skimming machines within a couple of weeks. And this was not an isolated incident. Going by the number of ATM skimming incidents across the country, there is a possibility that you can also become a victim.

FRAUDSTERS AT WORK AT AN ATM NEAR YOU – Police officials say that these are not stand –alone cases, but are linked to bigger foreign and Indian gangs which create fake cards by stealing data from ATMs. After the Khan Market case, two Bulgarians were arrested for placing skimming devices in the ATM. They told the police that these cases happen in India because, unlike European countries, Indian ATMs do not have advance security system. The clone cards can be detected in European machines, but not in India.

Talking about their modus operandi, Madhur Verma, former DCP, New Delhi, says,” They used to swipe clone European ATM cards and withdraw Indian currency and did the same for Indian ATM cards. Besides, their aids in Europe were also supplying data which they used to clone more cards.” The police recovered 24,000 Euros (over rupees 18 lakh) from them. Such skimming causes by Bulgarian and Romanian nationals have also been reported in other cities like Mumbai, Luck now, Hyderabad. “The first time my card got hacked, the guy withdrew 20k from my credit card at a Thane-based ATM.I had to file a police complaint, and the bank authorities looked into the matter. The second time, my pin got hacked. But this time around, I was more vigilant. I immediately blocked the card, so there was no theft,” shares Mumbai based writer, Tanya Shah.

AVOID USING ATMS INCROWDED MARKET AREAS – While many people tend to withdraw cash in markets before shopping, the police advise to avoid it. Police officials say that no. ATM is immune from skimming machine fraud, and any area where the footfall Is high is vulnerable.

WHAT IS CARD SKIMMING?

Skimming means stealing debit card data by putting an illegal card reading device on an ATM. The modus operandi is simple –put a skimming machine over the card reader in an ATM and place a pinhole camera above the keypad to record the PIN number of the card. The fraudsters then copy the data to duplicate cards and use it to withdraw cash. The police says that gift card are also used by fraudsters to transfer debit card’s data and then used in ATMs to withdraw cash.

CARDS WITH MAGNETIC STRIPS ARE EASIER TO CLONE – ATM cards that have magnetic stripes on the back are easier to clone than those that have chips on the front. Shobhit Saksena, additional DCP, New Delhi, says, “Cards that have microchips process transaction data in a more secure way than cards with magnetic stripes. If you have a card with a magnetic stripe, ask your bank to issue the new microchip card. Also, skimmers are a huge problem at petrol pumps and it’s harder to detect because they will not get reported. We strictly advise people to not use their cards at petrol pumps. Also, I would say any area where footfall is high, users should be wary of using the ATM at that place.”

Madhur Verma, former DCP, New Delhi, adds, “If your card is skimmed , you can file a complaint and an FIR will be registered , and you’ll get your money back. The consumer aren’t liable for funds stolen from their bank account through frauds like skimming . Only in those cases where a customer has shared the OTP, the bank is not liable for any return.