Security experts say chip cards are the reason for increased ATM skimming

ATTLEBORO, Mass. — Attleboro police say skimmer devices may have been used to steal credit card information from two local convenience store ATMs.

The devices give thieves access to customer's financial accounts and have been found all over recently.

"There is a gold rush right now," Robert Siciliano, a security expert with Hot Spot Shield, said.
That means every time you swipe your card and key your pin you increase your chances of getting your personal information swiped.

Siciliano says the new chip cards are the reason why. They're designed to phase out the magnetic strip cards.

The skimming devices fit over a card slot at an ATM or other card reader and lift the item off those strips, so thieves are trying to cash in while they still can.

"As long as the chip and pin cards are being deployed and the magnetic strip cards are on their way out, ATM skimming will continue to rise,” Siciliano said.

Because the information the skimmer collects is useless without the associated pin, thieves will often have a hidden camera on the machine to record that code. But if you keep that private, Siciliano says, your personal information will stay private too

"Probably the most effective way to thwart ATM skimming is always to cover up the keypad with your other hand while you're entering the pin code,” he said.

Time is of the essence if you think your account has been compromised, federal only allows for two business days to report fraud.

Cox Media Group