Here’s what that means:ĭata use: Once the criminals have the card data, they can either clone the card or sell the information.Ĭlone the cards: Transfer the stolen data onto blank cards to make unauthorized purchases.

When your credit or debit card is skimmed, the person who installed the skimmer can access your credit card data. Some sophisticated skimmers can transmit the data wirelessly, removing the need for retrieval. Retrieval: The thief later returns to retrieve the skimmer and download the captured card data. This data includes the cardholder's name, card number, expiration date, and the CVV (a series of service codes and encoded information). Some advanced skimmers can also be installed inside the machine, making them even harder to detect.ĭata capture: When an unsuspecting cardholder swipes or inserts their card into the compromised slot, the skimmer reads and stores the card's magnetic stripe data. Installation: Culprits discreetly attach the skimmer device over a legitimate card reader slot, like those found on ATMs, gas pumps, or other point-of-sale terminals.

A credit card skimmer works by illegally capturing and storing the information on a credit card's magnetic stripe.

Credit card slot machine scam