New Protections for Food Benefits Stolen by Skimmers

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2023 21:09:07 +0000

Millions of Americans receiving food assistance benefits just earned a new right that they can’t yet enforce: The right to be reimbursed if funds on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards are stolen by card skimming devices secretly installed at cash machines and grocery store checkout lanes.

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Lawsuit Seeks Food Benefits Stolen By Skimmers

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2022 18:11:10 +0000

A nonprofit organization is suing the state of Massachusetts on behalf of thousands of low-income families who were collectively robbed of more than a $1 million in food assistance benefits by card skimming devices secretly installed at cash machines and grocery store checkout lanes across the state. Federal law bars states from replacing these benefits using federal funds, and a recent rash of skimming incidents nationwide has disproportionately affected those receiving food assistance via state-issued prepaid debit cards.

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How Card Skimming Disproportionally Affects Those Most In Need

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2022 01:28:46 +0000

When people banking in the United States lose money because their payment card got skimmed at an ATM, gas pump or grocery store checkout terminal, they may face hassles or delays in recovering any lost funds, but they are almost always made whole by their financial institution. Yet, one class of Americans — those receiving food assistance benefits via state-issued prepaid debit cards — are particularly exposed to losses from skimming scams, and usually have little recourse to do anything about it.

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Say Hello to Crazy Thin ‘Deep Insert’ ATM Skimmers

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2022 21:46:58 +0000

A number of financial institutions in and around New York City are dealing with a rash of super-thin “deep insert” card skimming devices designed to fit inside the mouth of an ATM’s card acceptance slot. The card skimmers are paired with tiny pinhole cameras that are cleverly disguised as part of the cash machine. Here’s a look at some of the more sophisticated deep insert skimmer technology that fraud investigators have recently found in the wild.

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Hidden Cam Above Bluetooth Pump Skimmer

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2019 16:40:24 +0000

Tiny hidden spy cameras are a common sight at ATMs that have been tampered with by crooks who specialize in retrofitting the machines with card skimmers. But until this past week I’d never heard of hidden cameras being used at gas pumps in tandem with Bluetooth-based card skimming devices. Apparently, I’m not alone. “I believe this is the first time I’ve seen a camera on a gas pump with a Bluetooth card skimmer,” said Detective Matt Jogodka of the Las Vegas Police Department, referring to the compromised fuel pump pictured below. Apparently, I’m not alone. “I believe this is the first time I’ve seen a camera on a gas pump with a Bluetooth card skimmer,” said Detective Matt Jogodka of the Las Vegas Police Department, referring to the compromised fuel pump pictured below.

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Meet Bluetana, the Scourge of Pump Skimmers

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 12:25:32 +0000

“Bluetana,” a new mobile app that looks for Bluetooth-based payment card skimmers hidden inside gas pumps, is helping police and state employees more rapidly and accurately locate compromised fuel stations across the nation, a study released this week suggests. Data collected in the course of the investigation also reveals some fascinating details that may help explain why these pump skimmers are so lucrative and ubiquitous.

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Alleged Chief of Romanian ATM Skimming Gang Arrested in Mexico

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2019 22:44:42 +0000

An alleged top boss of a Romanian crime syndicate that U.S. authorities say is responsible for deploying card-skimming devices at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) throughout North America was arrested in Mexico last week on firearms charges. The arrest comes months after the accused allegedly ordered the execution of a former bodyguard who was trying to help U.S. authorities bring down the group’s lucrative skimming operations.

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Insert Skimmer + Camera Cover PIN Stealer

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2019 03:41:54 +0000

Very often the most clever component of your typical ATM skimming attack is the hidden pinhole camera used to record customers entering their PINs. These little video bandits can be hidden 100 different ways, but they’re frequently disguised as ATM security features — such as an extra PIN pad privacy cover, or an all-in-one skimmer over the green flashing card acceptance slot at the ATM. And sometimes, the scammers just hijack the security camera built into the ATM itself.

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