Posted on 2/6/2004, 4:23:25 AM by Vision Thing
'Skimming' Device Used At Fort Worth Restaurant
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Criminals typically are quick to adopt any high-tech advantage they can find. Now, a new digital device, available for sale on the Internet, is making it easier for identity thieves to capture credit card information and produce counterfeit cards.
The small device is called a "skimmer," and it can fit in the palm of someone's hand. Identity thieves swipe magnetic strips on credit cards into the skimmer, which can store up to 1,500 numbers. The thieves then download the credit card account numbers into a computer and, using another device, clone the credit card.
The practice is becoming more widespread in North Texas. The region, with 4,152 cases last year, ranks seventh in the United States in the number of identity theft cases.
Restaurants can be particularly susceptible to skimmer use because credit cards are used frequently and out of view of customers. Tarrant County prosecutor Tonya Harlan heads an investigation into the use of these gadgets in Fort Worth restaurants.
"They can slip it in their pocket, and it's hidden," she said. "You pay with your credit card. They can pull (the skimmer) out of their pocket. They run your card, the strip, through and then it stores the information."
According to NBC5, the prosecutor's probe has focused on a waiter at The Gardens Restaurant in Fort Worth's Botanical Gardens. The waiter reportedly has been fired, but prosecutors say the investigation has widened to include other restaurants.
A number of skimmers and generic credit cards, some already programmed with credit card numbers stolen from restaurant patrons, have been seized in the ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors warn that the only way to completely avoid falling victim to a credit card skimmer is to spend cash. They also suggest scrutinizing monthly credit card statements and, if possible, to keep watch on a credit card given as payment.
Considering that I use my credit card all the time in restaurants, I'm lucky that I haven't fallen victim to this scam.
I regularly check the activity in my accounts online, just in case anything like this happens before my monthly statements arrive.
This is good to know. Never let your credit card out of your sight.
Seems this could easily be stopped *if* US credit cards also had a PIN #. In countries that have this, CC theft/fraud is very low, as are the CC interest rates.
Our CC companies have always *claimed*, installation of machines would cost them too much. However it seems to me that most stores now have such machines, used for debit/banks cards. (with PIN #'s)
Looks like US CC companies are happy with US CC theft/fraud, & very happy with the 18% plus interest rates they charge the consumers to cover these loses.
there was an article with pics but I cant locate it
That's a really bad conflict of interest on the part of the US CC companies.
I remember watching a report about CC theft several years ago. I believe they pointed out England, as one of the places that had CC PIN's, & their CC theft was under 1%.
When US CC companies were interviewed, they claimed the machines would be too costly to install nation wide. Wonder *what* their excuse is now days?? As the same machines that swipe your debit card (w/PIN), also swipe those CC's. (without PIN)
The report also said *most* consumers only paid the first $50, when there was CC theft, they also pointed out US high interest rates covered the rest of these losses.(and MORE)
Thay = They, Them = The Giant Ants!
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