While cases of fraud related to credit and debit cards have been reported from across the country over the recent past, Chandigarh, too, is getting its share of lessons on the more sophisticated technique employed by miscreants these days — “Skimming”.To “skim” through the account, all anyone needs is your card for a few seconds when you are not watching. The card with all its basic information — the 16-digit number, Card Verification Value (CVV), date of birth, credit card limit and address stored on the card’s magnetic tape — is then swiped through the “skimmer” and it is ready for misuse.Officials of the Cyber Crime Cell believe that “skimming” occurs mostly at restaurants, petrol stations and retail outlets where customers frequently use their cards for making transactions. Though the number of cases received by the UT Police has not reached an alarming stage yet, officers believe residents should be careful with their credit cards.“We are receiving cases of credit and debit card frauds. Some people hand over their cards to waiters or other people in the retail establishments for transactions. Sometimes, these people act as carriers for miscreants and swipe the cards through ‘skimmers’,” said DSP (Crime) K I P Singh.The DSP added: “It is advisable to accompany the waiter or the person whom you have handed over the card for transaction. Get your card swiped in front of you and take your card back after the transaction is complete. If you are concerned about letting go of your card at restaurants, use cash instead.”The mantra, added the DSP, is not to let your card go out of your sight and never let any person swipe it through any other machine.“Skimming” is becoming a common practice all over the world. The skimmer records the card owner’s account information by copying the data contained on the card’s magnetic strip. The data from the skimmer is downloaded onto a computer and fed into blank credit cards which are then used for transactions. The money is debited from the account of the original card holder.How to avoid ‘skimming’?Make sure your card stays in sight. Skimming occurs mostly at restaurants and retail stores where the waiter or retail agent takes your card for a transactions. Always follow them.
