ATM card skimming machine?

[Rave]

Opinions please. I went to use an ATM at my local Barclays last night and found that the card slot had changed- a plastic bit had been added to it, and there was a sticker below it saying something along the lines of "This ATM has been fitted with an anti-fraud device. Any attempt to remove it will result in the ATM shutting down."

That sounded so unlikely to me that I called the cops and tipped them off. When I went by this morning though the machines were unaltered, and now I'm wondering if it actually was Barclays who fitted the things?

[Jiff Lemon]

Pop into the bank itself and ask?

[directhex]

i saw that on a barclays machine here in oxford

i'm not using barclays cash machines anymore

what complete idiot decided to combat card skimmers by attaching their own card-skimmer-shaped-devices, and even having posters with pictures right next to the machines, to prove how dodgy they are

[Moby-Dick]

try and take a piccy of it ?

they are usually in conjunction with a camera for recording your PIN

[Rave]

Pop into the bank itself and ask?

That would indeed have been a good plan, but I'm never there during opening hours.

[Kezzer]

I saw a sign on one of the ATM's about how an ATM should look and what a fraud ATM COULD look like. Is it me or is that a dumb idea? Surely that's advertising how criminals should make a look-a-like ATM?

[Allen]

No way would the bank have fitted a device like that, no way. I've seen several machines now with card readers on them and have called the police a couple of times. Next time you see one, check to see if there's also a bar added either on top of the screen or below it, then check that bar for a camera. That's a sure way to find out if a fraudulent device is fitted.

Damn scammers, why can't they go out and earn an honest buck like the rest of us try to!

[Nick F]

We have sent men into space, I am sure the banks can arrange something to stop this kind of thing happening, it happens all the time here in London, just think of the all the drunks coming home from nightclubs getting money out for a taxi and not seeing the skimming device.

[Allen]

I saw a sign on one of the ATM's about how an ATM should look and what a fraud ATM COULD look like. Is it me or is that a dumb idea? Surely that's advertising how criminals should make a look-a-like ATM?

KeZZeR, they don't actually make look-a-like ATM's, they make card readers which fit over the slots and add camera's to the machine to record pins. Using that info, they clone the cards and have the pins.

[MD]

if the notice is under the plastic cover then yes, they are legit, barclays have done it cos the machines they had were apparently being targetted cos the hole for the slot was recessed so adding a skimmer would not have made it look un-usual, you should find the one fitted to the machine you saw makes it really quite hard to get your card in and out, its supposed to be there....

m@

[5lab]

yeah i think they are delibrate - i've seen a few machines like it now.. i got a bit worried the first time but if you look in you can see that there is nothing reading the magnetic strip inside that device, so i thought it safe..

i still cover my hand when typing my pin in thou

[Allen]

Surely they wouldn't add something which looks like a reader to make people feel more comfortable about using them? The scammer will just make their readers look like them then.

I won't be using any Barclays machines which have them on, that's for sure!

[Rave]

Got a link Matt? I'm naturally suspicious you see....

[Spud1]

try and take a piccy of it ?

they are usually in conjunction with a camera for recording your PIN

pfft no need for a camera, your PIN is stored on the card..

if they skimmed the card then they have your pin already

[Lead_Head]

I saw a sign on one of the ATM's about how an ATM should look and what a fraud ATM COULD look like. Is it me or is that a dumb idea? Surely that's advertising how criminals should make a look-a-like ATM?

Before you put the skimmer on you have a perfectly fresh ATM machine to imitate from anyway

I've never seen a skimmer before, I've only really seen the ones which barmen / maids are often targetted with... which is why I never pay for items on my card in a bar other than my local.

[Kumagoro]

If i ever saw one of them things id probably take it.