How are Credit Debit Card details stolen?

Recently, the details of about 14 lakh credit and debit cards of India were sold on the Dark Web. This was the biggest Credit and Debit Card data ever, in which 98% of the cards were from Indian banks. Group-IB cyber security firm had disclosed this. Along with this, Aaj Tak had also published news on this. This news shocked everyone. Bank accounts of lakhs of Indians were cleared. But the question is, how did the details of so many cards reach the hackers? How are Credit and Debit Card details stolen? And how can we avoid it? Let us know in detail.

Credit/Debit Card Fraud

Nowadays the cases of Credit and Debit Card Fraud have increased a lot. Hackers create duplicate cards by stealing credit/debit card details. And after clearing the bank account of the Victim, they get away with it. But the question is how? Is it that easy to steal credit/debit card details? If not, then how do hackers and fraudsters steal card details? Come, let's know in detail.

Card Skimming

If you use Credit / Debit Card to withdraw money from ATM or make online payment, then this article is especially for you. Because nowadays the incidents of fraud through ATM and POS machines have become quite common. Hackers create duplicate cards by stealing your credit or debit card details. And they walk by sweeping your bank account. And the funny thing is that you are not even aware of it. Your senses fly away when you get a message from the bank. And it turns out that someone has withdrawn money from your account. Then you call the bank in a hurry and get your card blocked.

But by then it is too late. That means your bank account is completely cleared. And you have no other option but to beat your chest. But the question is, how do hackers steal the details of the cards so clearly? So there are many ways. Skimming is one of these. Now you will ask what is this skimming? Just tell me about it first. Come on, listen…

What is Skimming?

Stealing credit card or debit card details fraudulently is called 'skimming'. This is the most popular way of stealing details. In this, the help of a small device is taken, which is called a skimmer. Skimmer is a kind of Card Reader or say Card Scanner. Which captures and saves the data present in the magnetic stripe of the card. In this way the entire detail of your card goes to the hacker. And on the basis of this detail, Duplicate Card is made. In technical language it is called Card Cloning.

How are Credit Debit Card details stolen?

I would like to tell you that the process of skimming is completed in two stages. In the first step, the details of the card are obtained. For this work, Skimmer Device is installed on the card reader of the ATM machine. It is very similar to the original card reader of the ATM machine. And it looks just like the real thing. That's why no one suspects. But when someone inserts his card in the ATM machine. So Skimmer captures the information present in the Magnetic Stripe of the card and saves it. In this way all the details of the card go to the hacker. And the card holder doesn't even know.

After that the second phase begins. In the second step the PIN number of the card is obtained. Spy Camera is used for this. Camera complete setup. In which there is a Pinhole Camera, a Battery and a Micro SD Card or Pendrive for storage. The size of the camera setup depends on the location. Usually it is placed just above the keypad or on the bar at the top of the monitor. As shown in the picture below. The camera is placed at such a place from where its eyes fall directly on the keypad. So that whatever button the ATM user presses, it is clearly recorded in the video.

Apart from this, there is another way to steal PIN number. In this, a fake Overlay Keypad is placed on the Keypad of ATM or POS Machine. Which looks exactly like the original keypad. But actually it is a PIN Reader device. When a user enters his PIN. So this overlay keypad reads that PIN. In this way, along with the card details, its PIN number also reaches the hackers. After getting the card details and PIN number, the hacker creates a Duplicate Card through Card Cloning. And withdraws all the money from Victim's bank account.

What is Card Cloning?

Card cloning is made up of two words – card and cloning. Here card means credit card or debit card and cloning means copying, copying or impersonation. In this way Card Cloning means copying Credit Card or Debit Card. or making duplicate copies. Means making duplicate cards by stealing details through skimming. By the way, let me tell you that the duplicate card also does the same thing that an original card does.

How to avoid skimming?

Agreed that hackers are very clever and they have many ways of cheating. But despite this, if you want, you can avoid Hacking and Fraud. For this, you should take care of the following things while using a credit or debit card: -

Check ATM Machine

Before using any ATM machine, check it thoroughly. See if any tampering has been done with the ATM machine? If you find something wrong. So don't use that ATM.

Check Card Reader

Before inserting the card in the ATM machine, check the card reader. If the card reader is larger than normal or looks bulging, try pulling it out. If Skimmer Device is installed on it, then it will be uprooted and come in your hand. Skimmer is usually pasted with glue. Which gets uprooted as soon as you apply a little force.

Cheek Keypad

Please check the keypad before entering the PIN number. If the Cancel button is jammed or seems to be glued on! So don't enter your PIN number. Because there may be Camera nearby. Also if the keypad is embossed. Or if it looks newer than the machine, it could be a fake. In such a situation, try lifting the keypad from the side. If the keypad is glued on, it will lift up easily. As shown in the picture below.

Do not give your card to anyone

Be careful if a stranger offers help without asking in the ATM room. Neither give your card nor tell the ATM PIN to such a person. Because he may have Skimmer Device. Usually such people hide the Skimmer Device in their hand or under their clothes. They take the card from you and rub it on your clothes on the pretext of cleaning it. And cleverly swipe the card and steal the Deatils. So don't take any help from such people.

Beware of Fraudsters

If any such person is present in the ATM room. Who is unnecessarily standing there watching people enter PIN numbers. So please be alert. Also, do not enter your PIN number in front of such a person. Because he can be a cyber thug. In such a situation, politely ask the person to go out. It's okay if he leaves. Otherwise, inform the police and complain about it. It is your right as well as duty.

Cheek POS Machine

Whenever you make a payment by credit or debit card in a hotel or mall, enter your PIN yourself. And do check the keypad of the POS machine while entering the PIN. If the keypad appears larger, bulging, or looser than usual, lift it up and take a look. If Overlay Keypad is installed on the keypad. So it means that you are being cheated. In such a situation, do the duty of a responsible citizen. And inform the police.

Hide your pin

While entering the PIN number of your Credit or Debit Card, take special care that no one else can see your PIN number. For this, you enter the PIN number by covering or hiding it with the other hand. So that even if a camera is installed nearby, your PIN number will not be recorded in it.

Always Check Busy ATMs

Overcrowded ATMs are always on the target of hackers. Because of the crowd in these ATMs, people are unable to pay attention to small things. Nor does one get that much time. That's why hackers take advantage of it. That's why whenever you go to a crowded ATM, always be alert. If you find something wrong with the card reader or keypad. So don't use ATM.

Beware of Empty ATM

ATMs without guards are also always on the target of hackers. Because there is no one to stop them. So they can comfortably install skimmers and cameras. And you can take it out whenever you want. That's why whenever you go to an unguarded ATM, do check the ATM machine. Also check the card reader and keypad. If you find any problem, do not use ATM.

Follow Safety Guidelines

Security guidelines are issued by the bank from time to time. Which is for the security of your account. Always follow this guideline. Apart from this, keep yourself up-to-date with the security updates and notifications issued by the bank. If you always keep these 10 things in mind. So never be a victim of card skimming and fraud.

Credit Debit Card Summary

I hope that through this article you will get Card Skimming Kya Hai? And how are the details of Credit Card and Debit Card stolen through this? Complete information about this would have been received. Also what is card cloning? Got to know a lot about this too. If you liked this article, then like and share it. And subscribe to 'TechSavvy.com' for more such informative articles. So that whenever we publish a new article, you will get the information.

question 1. What is card cloning?

Answer: Card cloning is a technique to create duplicate cards. Which is used to make a duplicate copy of Credit Card or Debit Card. But the duplicate card also works the same as the original card.

Question 2. What is card skimming?

Answer: Card skimming is a method of stealing credit card or debit card details. Which is used by Fraudsters. In this, the help of a device called Skimmer is taken. Card details are stolen by pasting this device on the card reader of ATM or POS Machine.

Question 3. How are credit card and debit card details stolen?

Answer: A device called skimmer is used to steal credit card and debit card details. This device is mounted on the card reader of ATM machine or POS machine. And when someone swipes the card, this device captures all the details of the card. And with the help of these details, Duplicate Card is made, which is called Card Cloning.