Just when you thought you were safe, the card skimmers are at it
again. This time they’re placing their card readers inside the door
locks that require you to dip your card before you can enter an ATM
vestibule.According to Brian Krebs, the scammers hide the readers inside the comparatively unnoticed locks and then add a small hidden camera around the ATM. They grab your card data via the reader as you enter and then match it up with your PIN, which they read by watching your hands on the PIN pad.
In this case the hackers installed their card reader inside a fake lock faceplate and then stuck a dismembered Casio camera into a strip of thin plastic. This allows them to retrieve the card data separately from the PIN data and it puts them safely outside for at least one of those actions. Interestingly, you don’t actually have to dip your debit card to get past most vestibule doors.
Pro tip: These door security devices aren’t too smart, and most of them will happily accept just about any card with a magnetic stripe. But don’t take my word for it: Next time you pass one of these ATM vestibules on the street, whip out your library card or ID card and see for yourself.Again, I implore you, dear reader, to hide your PIN code with your other hand every time you type it. This simple step will save you time – and money – as hackers bypass your card because they can’t grab your digits.