card skimmers - Gizmodo

posts about #cardskimmers more →
Jerk Thieves Show Off and Try to Sell Illegal Card Skimmer
Card Skimmers Yield Over $2M to Thieves in NY
Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
Attack of the Card Skimmers: It's Happening Right Here, Right Now
A Man Finds an Actual Card Skimmer in the Wild, in the Flesh

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Bertone77
09/20/09

In reply to Jerk Thieves Show Off and Try to Sell Illegal Card Skimmer
"this video has been removed due to terms of use violation"
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10pound
09/19/09

In reply to Jerk Thieves Show Off and Try to Sell Illegal Card Skimmer
I am a little torn. I do agree that thieves are cowardly shits that should catch a beating for taking something that does not belong to them. On the other hand, videos like this (and any publicity related to) should motivate corporations, either through a sense of responsibility (yeah...right..I won't hold my breath) or public outcry, to take appropriate steps to ensure that hacks like this cannot overcome their tech.

But.......since a majority of ATM machines are made by Diebold (disclaimer: I have no proof to back that up) who are a corporation that cares not even one little bit about anything other than profit (FACT!), I have doubts that anything will happen to circumvent/deny/overcome these card skimmer hacks.

my 2 cents.
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met2art
09/19/09

@10pound: Most hackers purposefully disseminate or publish hacks for that exact reason. Whether it's in regard to exploitable weaknesses in email system, or how to easily bypass deadbolt locks, the goal is usually to inform people that they are not as safe or secure as they believe themselves to be. The hope is that if companies won't correct the problems, that at least the affected individuals will realize the problem and take additional steps to remedy the situation.

Granted, there will be those who take the information and use it against those who haven't yet been made aware of the problem. The lag time there is a major issue. But, you can't withhold all information from the majority for the sake of it being misused by the minority.

In regards to your statement about Diebold; their concern is profit, and their profit is based on the security of their products. Banks won't invest in Diebold products if they are proven to be easily circumvented or compromised. Greed, like paranoia, is a fantastic motivator for the development of higher security. The bigger issue is that this is less Diebold's problem, but that of the bank, institution, or individual who owns the ATM. The security of my house isn't Medeco's responsibility. Even if I trust their product, it's my responsiblity (beyond manufacturer gross negligence or fraud), ultimately, to ensure that the product works and that I maintain awareness of it, and my property. Laxity is the first chink in the armor.
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HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H. promoted this comment met2art was starred met2art was unstarred

HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.
09/19/09

@met2art has an invisible star: It's one thing to disseminate the information. It's quite another to cash in on it, like these assholes do by trying to sell card skimmers to fraudsters.
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met2art
09/20/09

@HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.: I agree, and I wasn't defending their actions, but just speaking in response to what @10pound had mentioned. These guys are obviously douchebags, and will no doubt be caught before long.
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electricarchie
09/19/09

In reply to Jerk Thieves Show Off and Try to Sell Illegal Card Skimmer
They have more videos on their youtube channel of finished products, and people commenting saying things like "wow this is cool how do i buy?" No question anyone who purchases, installs and collects money from one of these things should be sent to jail.

I've been keeping a lookout for these things at ATM's since your original article was posted several months ago. I haven't seen one yet but the two ATM's I use most frequently are the one at my main bank branch and the one in the police department at school... fairly safe and not overly susceptible to this kind of hack.... i hope.
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alexryia
05/12/09

In reply to Card Skimmers Yield Over $2M to Thieves in NY
I run my fingers over every surface overhanging the keypad - if I find anything suspicious, I go to another ATM.

I'm also paranoid enough to shield my typing fingers w my other hand - so what? My money's safe, at least!
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GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee
05/12/09

@alexryia: At least take the wireless camera. I'll buy it from ya.
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GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee
05/12/09

In reply to Card Skimmers Yield Over $2M to Thieves in NY
I just picture the laughs these scammers/skimmers would get when they try to buy something with what's in my account.
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jonhapimp
05/12/09

@TheTriStatesBestSide_GitEmSteveDave:they would be in jail with my amount, bill collectors don't play
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Hello Mister Walrus
05/12/09

@TheTriStatesBestSide_GitEmSteveDave: Maybe they'll feel sorry for you and deposit money instead.
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GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee
05/13/09

@jonhapimp: Dear Mr. Davidson: This is to inform you that we know you moved from your currently supplied location to a new address based on account activity. We will be dispatching someone to your new address to collect the penalties owed to us.

@Hello Mister Walrus: I wouldnt tell you if they did ;)
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Jesse in Japan
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
Am I the only one who thinks that people who see these things in the wild should, without touching them, report them immediately to the bank and to local police?
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Vivara
04/09/09

@Jesse in Japan: No, you're not. See my above comment regarding this!

Andi - bad advice, in my opinion.
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Jesse in Japan
04/10/09

@Vivara: I was actually talking about tampering with evidence or perhaps getting arrested as a suspected card skimmer yourself.
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John A. Frye
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
I wouldn't recommend trying to remove the device as you run the chance of being stabbed or shot.
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madog
04/09/09

@John A. Frye: Or be given 1 billion dollars, and the secret to everlasting life as a reward. It COULD go either way.
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kernow
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
If i see a skimmer and try to remove it but it's stuck on there really well so i take my pen knife to it and break of random bits of plastic which turns out not to be a card skimmer but just part of the ATM then get arrested for attempted theft I'll just explain to the nice police officers that Giz told me to do it.
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IN THE FACE!
04/09/09

@leotris: Or you could just admit to your mental "difficulties"...
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s017jrs
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
I bet Diebold has rooms full of these things taken off their machines.
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madog
04/09/09

@s017jrs: They are all locked in a safe with the combination, 1, 2, 3, 4.
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Vivara
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
These were all the rage in Ireland four or five years ago (gosh, you guys are really behind).

One guy took a skimmer -- and was murdered by the thieves two days later.

SO, my point is, no it's not a good idea to take them off. Just report, and take photos.
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92BuickLeSabre
04/08/09

@Vivara: How did they know it was him?
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S.. doesn't have any friends.
04/08/09

@Vivara: good to know our criminals are 4 to 5 years behind...let us know what to look out for next.
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GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee
04/08/09

@Vivara: Photos and/or video, or it didn't happen, and I will have to use the s word.
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Con Seannery
04/08/09

@KetchupCatsup_GitEmSteveDave: You mean shenanigans?

://gizmodo.com/5112183/microwave-jingle-bells-will-heat-up-your...
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Con Seannery
04/08/09

@Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz: Well damn, the little link there from the embed back months ago is still in there, I did not know that.
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GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee
04/09/09

@Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz: Ahhh, that was back when I was using acronyms. I saw "LMAO" and "A/S/L". But I'll go get my broom just in case.
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scuba_steve
04/09/09

@92BuickLeSabre: Bear in mind, it's much cheaper to build and easier to conceal the camera if it doesn't have the recording device built in.

As you rip that card scanner off the ATM, giggling to yourself at your intellectual mastery over the common criminal, he is watching it happen from a van/car/appartment, probably within about 100m of you. I hope you have your running shoes on.
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All_Thumbs
04/09/09

@scuba_steve: To paraphrase Mal Reynolds, if someone tries to kill me, well, I'll kill 'em right back.
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scuba_steve
04/09/09

@All_Thumbs: Well, someone 'trying' to kill you probably isn't the issue. If I was you, I'd be more worried about them ACTUALLY killing you. If that happened it would bugger your whole 'killing them back' thing right up.

Anyway, round these parts we tend not to have the whole bullets whistling around thing going on. I would probably just leave the card scanner on the ATM because I don't want to get my head kicked in. Also, the police actually have a chance of catching the scammers if the device is in place and they think no one's on to them. That's the point of this whole thing isn't it, Gizmodo? Or are we just after some cool photos?
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IN THE FACE!
04/09/09

@scuba_steve: What difference could it possibly make if you leave it on the ATM or pull it off yourself and then hand over to police?

The bank/cops are NOT going to want to leave it on the ATM to try and catch the culprit when he comes back for it.

And I would want to be sure I had in fact found a skimmer before I called the cops (i.e. yank the thing off and look for the port on the back), I'm sure a poorly fitting bit of trim on an ATM could look just like a skimmer.
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madog
04/09/09

@S.. doesn't have any friends.: I thought the different time zone only put them 8 hours in the future? Guess I've got a lot to learn.
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iFOREIGNi
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
So it's like a vicious, free-for-all game of hide and go seek involving a mob mentality. Me likey.
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IN THE FACE!
04/09/09

@iFOREIGNi: And for once our motives are "pure"...

I'll be right there, just let me sharpen my pitchfork really quick... And where did I leave my torch?
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thehamsterman
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
I'm in, but wouldn't tearing the pieces off right away ruin evidence or something? I'm not sure how these things work.
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IN THE FACE!
04/09/09

@thehamsterman: The back is usually covered with tape, if there is a fingerprint on the tape, pulling the skimmer off the atm won't harm that print (so long as you don't plunk down your big greasy finger right over it once you get the skimmer off the atm)...

And there are probably a bajillion prints on the front of the thing already...
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92BuickLeSabre
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
Wait, I thought this was a pro data-theft community...

I'm so confused?!?!??!?!?!?!
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Matt B
04/08/09

@92BuickLeSabre:

big difference between downloading a TV show and stealing someone's identity. if you can't see that, you should probably just stop reading/commenting.
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92BuickLeSabre
04/08/09

@Matt B: Oh yes. I am surely out of my depth, trying to keep up with the Gizmodo commenters such as yourself.

Maybe someday I will have something to offer!

One can only hope!
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FredicvsMaximvs
04/08/09

@Matt B: big difference between getting the joke and being way too serious. If you can't see that, you should probably just stop reading/commenting. ;-)
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zenpoet
04/09/09

@92BuickLeSabre: Sorry '92, I have to agree with Matt B. You have completely lost all ability to make serious and informed statements on anything that has been posted recently. I am going to have to ask you to hand in your commenter card, and have security escort you off the internet.

kekekeke
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madog
04/09/09

@FredicvsMaximvs: Big difference between stealing a shoe and beating an old woman with a baseball bat.

Wait. What?
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GitEmSteveDave_HurtHisKnee
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
I would totally keep anything like this I found. I am just that kind of guy. What's the thief going to do, turn me in?
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edison234
04/09/09

@VideoOrItDidn'tHappen_GitEmSteveDave: Yes, turn you in anonymously. Are the atm card data mastermind because you have the equipment in your possession? No? Then who is? What? You don't have any names to give the cops? Uhhh... That sounds like a bad situation to be in.
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gman2093
04/09/09

@edison234: Assuming you let the thief know who YOU are...
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madog
04/09/09

@gman2093: I AM Spatacus!
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syko21
04/08/09

In reply to Card Skimmer Beatdown: We Want You
i have a sudden urge to go to every ATM in a 5 mile radius
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Ghede
04/08/09

@syko21: Watch, the banks see an upsurge of people arriving just to look at their ATM's, go into full paranoia mode and start calling the police every fifteen minutes.
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