Credit Card Swiper Machine

[skatss]

In many stores now the cashier doesn't take your credit card or debit card anymore. There is a machine near the register where you swipe your credit or debit card in it, press a few buttons and you're done. In the long run it is faster than the old way but I wonder how safe it is.

I heard somewhere that criminals can get your card number and other information from this machine very easily. Has anyone heard this? Is this machine really safe?

[id62000]

Yeah, its true. If the employees in the malls and stores are dishonest, they can place a bug in the machine to store your CC number.

[mandiees]

I also heard about this being done - yet another reason to live free of plastic!

[Orrymain]

When it comes down to it, you just have to rely on luck and watching your account as closely as you can. There is dishonesty everywhere!

[Cossette]

I heard of this last year. This crime is known as Card Swipe Scam. The group who do the operation, roam around retail stores and distract cashier and install this small device on the swiping machine.What happens is that the scanning device copies the card number as well as the secret code.

[Offshore]

Originally Posted by skatss

I heard somewhere that criminals can get your card number and other information from this machine very easily. Has anyone heard this? Is this machine really safe?

Yes, this machines are hackable since they ride on networks like you computer. After that, the information is sold in the internet in different blogs dedicate exclusively to the exchange of this type of info. It happens fast too.

See "To catch an ID thief" with Chris Hansen. Here is shown also how it´s done.

YouTube - chris hansen - to catch an id thief 1

[Ms_Margaret]

It is quiet unsafe to use a debit or credit card at a swiper machine. It is a very easy and timing saving process but at the same time quiet unsafe as well as the details of the card gets stored in the swiper machine and anyone with an negative intention can retrieve the personal information from the machine and misuse it in the future.

I would rather suggest to pay cash than to swipe a card unless the shopping place is quiet well known to you.