Mount Pleasant Police Department - Crime Prevention Office

CREDIT CARD SKIMMING

Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in America today. The FTC reports that one in every ten people will be a victim of Identity Theft this year. One form of Identity Theft is called credit card skimming. Credit card skimming is a way for criminals to obtain your credit card information and store it on a special storage device to be used later for fraudulent purposes. All an identity thief has to do to have access to your card is to swipe the card through the skimmer just like you swipe it though the machine at the grocery store. It requires a minimal amount of technology and all the items required to make a skimmer can be bought at radio shack or on the internet. The criminals can use the information themselves or sell it to other criminals all over the country or the world.

Credit card skimming can occur anywhere you use your debit or credit card. Some examples include gas pumps, ATM’s, retail stores, and anywhere you swipe a credit card. Remember that some criminals can be very smart and creative with their criminal activity. A restaurant or bar is the easiest place for skimming to occur because it is one of the few places that we hand someone our card and loose sight of it for a period of time. Skimming has occurred as far away as California and as close as right here in the Low Country.

Protection

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Only use your debit or credit card in places that you are familiar and comfortable with.
• Use the ATM inside that bank.
• Check out the machine. If it doesn’t look right don’t take a chance. Notify management and law enforcement.
• Use cash more often than credit cards.
• Treat your credit card like gold.
• Check your accounts on a daily basis.
o If you notice a fraudulent charge you should notify law enforcement and close accounts before the fraudulent activity gets out of control.
o When investigating credit card fraud it is beneficial to law enforcement if the first point of compromise can be found. These investigations can be lengthy and often involved several jurisdictions and states. The sooner you can catch the fraudulent activity the better.

What to do if you if your identity has been compromised

Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient:

TransUnion: www.transunion.com, 1-800-680-7289
Experian: www.experian.com, 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
Equifax: www.equifax.com, 1-800-525-6285

Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.

Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently:
Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your okay. Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents. Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged. Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.

File a police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime. This report will also help you claim your rights as a victim of Identity Theft.

Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.

ftc.gov/idtheft
1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338)

For more information, contact Crime Prevention Officer Don Calabrese at 849-2779 or 884-4176, or at calabrese@townofmountpleasant.com