The ways and techniques by which cybercriminals try to obtain one’s personal and banking data do not stop developing, and above all, change: when we think there are no other ways to deceive us, there is always a trick to exploit. Elements of our day.
For example, ATMs: devices that are widely used, especially in summer, only accept cash on tourist trips. But the Spanish newspaper ‘El Economista’ recalled that the simple gesture of withdrawing money from an ATM on the street can even lead to our money being stolen. The skimming techniques that have become popular in the neighboring country are in trouble: recently, the national police dismantled a criminal group that defrauded almost 200 thousand euros with this technique in Valencia.
Spanish authorities have arrested three people and cannot rule out more involvement in the scheme, which involved using physical components designed to mimic parts of an ATM. Data contained on magnetic tapes.
In other words, when a person swipes or inserts his debit or credit card, the device copies the data and the cybercriminal can clone the card and use it as long as he wants.
There is a risk in street ATMs, special attention is paid to individuals who are not connected to a bank branch or anything, as they have less monitoring and are more likely to be tampered with by these elements.
However, to avoid falling victim to this scam, consider these tips:
– Avoid ATMs located on the street: Whenever possible, it is best to use ATMs located inside bank branches or shopping centers.
– Cover the keyboard while entering the PIN: When entering your PIN, cover the keyboard if micro cameras are installed that capture the combination.
– Review your bank transactions periodically: Attackers will use your card until you realize the theft, so in the worst case scenario, check your transactions periodically to make sure the theft is as small as possible.