@Jory:

And thats what really matters!

Brookeorama

It practically pays for itself!

Jory

Credit/Debit card fraud is huge. I only wish the U.S. would standardize ATM machines and enforce greater protection on credit cards and debit cards. I mean why work a 419 scam when you can do this twice as easy and without all of the trouble.

GHETTO.CHiLD

Wow this is very scary. I always feel a bit of concern when using those skanky ATM machines in bodegas and local deli shops. I guess from now on I'll make more of an effort to use my own bank's ATM.

RE-L

@TBM-Fan: I'd like to know the same. Like how you can check the back of public PCs for hardware key logging devices, it would be nice to know how to check for the same with ATMs (if possible).

channelx

That settles it -- I'm getting an ATM in my house!

Pwnage

is there any chance to tell if it is been modified?
i don't know if it works but here in Europe ATM's are shutdown when they are alterated

TBM-Fan

ok, never using one of those again

MrBlahBlah

first off never use those atms at delis and stuff. Only use a bank atm. You can also easily tell if a bank atm has been altered if something is covering the card slot.

majortom1029

@Jory: I could see Steve Ballmer doing a commercial for them and using that tag line.

Joseph

Humm, I try to use my credit card for EVERYTHING. Then just pay it off every month. A much better strategy then geting cash to pay for things.

Plus, I have a 2% cash back credit card that each year, pays ME $300 to use it! Does your credit card company pay you to use their credit card?

Noobs-R-Us

Well, think about this:

If the bad guy sends all these credit card numbers to his iPhone, at least he can't copy and paste them... so who's the joke on now, huh?

draghkar

ATM's are a part of the Robot Rebel Alliance and are traitors, take them away!

VideoVampire

@wngchng87: More like what card are they trying to sell! ;)

TheCrimsonOrder

Actually, my AmEx Blue pays me to use it. I got $479 last year and received 5% on my everyday purchases (groceries, gas, pharmacy) and 1.5% on everything else. Now my wife has decided to use her Blue for everything as well.

Anywho, I use an ATM about twice a month, if that. I pay for EVERYTHING with my credit card and pay it off at the end of the month. However, I could see how many people would get scammed. I'm just lucky that my bank has a $500 maximum daily withdraw limit and I look at my bank account every day.

BTW, those loses aren't insured, are they?

Nogard13

@Noobs-R-Us: what card are you using?

wngchng87

@Nogard13: withdraw/debit limits are a good idea...

urbanturban666

thats why i only use atms that got those clear green plastic things on the card slot...

[www.uob.com.sg]

urbanturban666

@channelx: public computers cant be trusted at all... toting around a mini usb keyboard will beat most hardware logging... but it might not be that easy to tell if you have a software keylogger...

urbanturban666

Damn that's a pretty good deal (my citi card is only about 1.5%- 2%), but what is your interest rate like? I'm still paying off some debt i worked up while i was out of work for a few months, it's nice to have a low rate

lpranal

Ya know, a few ideas on how to tell and/or beat these things would have been great in the article. :/

Silentheero

@urbanturban666: So you're saying I should make my SMS card skimmer out of clear green plastic?

Navin R Johnson

@RE-L: Won't matter, scammers just stick the card reader right over ANY ATM (your bank notwithstanding).

My brother pulled one right off an ATM and brought it to the police who had no idea what he was talking about and stared in confusion. It was double-back taped to the real machine.

Navin R Johnson

I don't get what reading a card number will do for you? I was under the impression that your PIN wasn't stored on a debit card. Maybe this is just good for reading Credit Card numbers? Or does it somehow hack the machine to grab the pin number as well?

Discofunk

@Discofunk: You don't need a PIN to buy stuff online. you would need that little three digit number and the expiration date though, I don't know if the card reader gets that

vicsells

@draghkar: lmao so true

vicsells

Some dude was on my local news last night talking about the cash only method of managing your finances, he paid off his cars in cash, then paid his home off in 9 years.

The only time I EVER use my account at all, is when Im using paypal or to tranfer funds to my or my daughters savings. I will admit though, when your at certain clubs watching boobies fly about, and you run out of cash, that ATM looks pretty nice, even with the $8 trans fee.

sdowney83

I have cash (as well as credit cards). I prefer cash.

Just another reason Cash is better than plastic.

Nobodies ever lived to take my Cash!

bud-strange

@Navin R Johnson: Your brother should have called the Secret Service. They have jurisdiction (most peple don;t realize that the Secret Service is the police arm of the Treasury since they SOMEHOW got the job of protecting the President, V.P, candidates and families)

Skeptical_Geezer

Someone must have discovered this in LA as well. My son's at the bank right now trying to get them to explain how some unauthorized person cleaned out his accounts.

infmom

thumbprint and iris scan - wouldn't biometrics make ATMs much more secure? Am I wrong in thinking this?

banmojo

@ banmojo
Then our eye and fingers will be chopped off by the thieves as well.

TheBugMan

Cut down on the possible scam by checking out all of the near by ATMs and compare the readers. Several times at gas stations and sport stadiums I have noticed odd readers compared to what is see on the next machines over.

zolielo

Generic ATMs are privately owned. Anyone can buy them and set up shop. A good percentage are owned by organized crime types. The added bonus? While getting your PIN skimmed, you're helping to launder money!

Full-Moto-Jacket

@wngchng87: Citibank's Dividend card.

Noobs-R-Us