Holidaymakers have been warned to be on the lookout for a "sophisticated" scam if they need to get money out of a cash point while travelling abroad this summer.
Cybersecurity experts at NordVPN have alerted Brits to a new wave of 'card skimming' techniques deployed by fraudsters at ATMs to steal the payment card details of unsuspecting victims. Research by the VPN service found that 600,000 payment card details were stolen by various types of malware in the last year, with the experts warning that physical card scams pose "just as much of a risk" as cyber threats - particularly when travelling to tourist destinations.
"Travellers are usually the ones who fall for ATM scams the most," Adrianus Warmenhoven, cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, explained. "That is because travellers usually don’t know what the ATM in a country they are visiting should really look like. So they risk ruining their own vacation by putting their card in a compromised machine without noticing the card skimmer attached to it."
He added: "There will be thousands of young people travelling to destinations such as Ibiza, Malia, Kos and Tenerife and criminals are aware that judgements tend to waver after a few drinks. If tourists are in desperate need of cash and see an ATM on a street, they will head straight over to it without giving a second thought as to how safe it might be."
An ATM skimmer is a device that can read a credit or debit card's magnetic stripe after it is inserted into a compromised machine. The device stores the data, such as the cardholder's name, card number, and expiration date, until the thief collects the device later.
Criminals can then use this stolen card information to create fake bank cards, make fraudulent purchases, or sell the stolen data online. Skimmers can come in various shapes and sizes; some are physically attached to a payment machine, extending the card slot, while others can be installed inside the machine and are only noticeable to the most cautious users.
Scammers also use hidden cameras that attempt to capture sensitive data while a victim uses an ATM. Lastly, a false keypad can be placed over the ATM's original keypad to capture the user's PIN without their knowledge, the cybersecurity experts warned.
How to spot a credit card skimmer
Although skimming devices are designed to be invisible, it's possible to identify them by performing a visual and physical examination. Here are a few simple steps you can take, as advised by the experts at NordVPN:
- Inspect the card reader - Is there any part of the machine that is out of alignment? If any part of it looks out of place, this could mean a skimmer has been installed.
- Look for hidden cameras around the credit card reader - Check if any suspicious holes are looking down towards where you would insert your card. If yes, a hidden camera might capture you entering your PIN.
- Consider how you pay - Using an application for payments or choosing ATMs in high-traffic areas or inside bank branches is safer than using cash machines located in places where fraudsters can easily corrupt them.
Top tips for using your card securely abroad
In addition, the experts have issued some key advice to holidaymakers on how to protect their money while travelling abroad:
- Consider using a prepaid card for your journey. If leaked, prepaid cards can't be used to steal your identity. They don't give access to your savings, and it's much easier to freeze them.
- Watch your bank statements online, even when on holiday. This step is important because most hackers will test your card before stealing the money. They will make a small charge to see whether the account is active. Only then will they drain your account.
- Inform your bank before going on vacation. Some card issuers will freeze cards if they detect out-of-the-ordinary activity that could indicate fraud.
- Be extra careful when using ATMs. Consider whether you really need to use an ATM at your travel destination, and if you must, always choose a reliable bank ATM located in a well-lit and busy area.
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