Credit and debit cards are one of the most popular forms of payment, and fraudsters take advantage of this through various schemes designed to gather card and other personal information to use to their benefit. While using cards online poses its own set of risks and safety measures (like ensuring you are purchasing only through a known seller), scammers often also utilize devices at in-person card readers to steal and store information that the person can then download and use themselves to commit fraud. When a scammer places a device on a card reader at point-of-sale terminals like ATMs and gas pumps to take data from the card’s microchip, this is known as shimming. Both credit and debit cards are susceptible to shimming.
To mitigate against shimming, you may consider utilizing contactless payment methods, such as your Compass debit card using the tap feature, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, to avoid inserting a physical card into a machine. Alternatively, cash is always an option for trusted in-person transactions. If you do choose to use a card, be sure to check the machines for any signs of tampering and abnormalities, which could be a sign that a shimming (or skimming) device has been installed.
