This content was created by Robert Siciliano. This content was uploaded by Robert Siciliano. This is a YouTube video titled "How To Protect Yourself From Credit Card Skimmers" (published 2023-12-29) containing a local news segment by Mary Salaita (WCBD NewsCenter 5) with cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano. The report covers organized-crime skimming rings that install sophisticated, often 3D-printed card skimmers at self-checkout and POS devices in several local stores (Sudbury Farms, Roach Brothers, Brothers Marketplace), shows footage of suspects attaching a skimmer, explains how skimmers capture card data and PINs (enabling ATM withdrawals), and gives consumer advice (use contactless/tap cards, avoid debit at POS, monitor statements and set alerts).
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We're at Sudbury Farms, which is one of the stores that was targeted. Uh, organized crime is behind these skimmers, which are more sophisticated and harder to detect than ever. This is video from a Walmart in New York. You're looking at 3 suspects attaching a credit card skimmer to the point-of-sale device you place your credit or debit card in. The whole thing took less than 30 seconds. The cashier never even noticed.
You have organized crime rings that are getting better at 3D printing up all of these various skimming devices.
Cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano says skimmers are everywhere.
They are actually a for-profit business where they will sell the skimming devices to other scammers.
Police are still looking for the would-be thieves who planted skimmers in 5 local stores over the holiday weekend: the Sudbury Farms supermarkets in Sudbury and in Needham, the Roach Brothers in Wellesley and in Natick, and the Brothers Marketplace in Weston. Shoppers who use the self-checkout Customers who made checkouts at these locations on or before December 24th may have had their data compromised. The big chains are watching, but skimmers are getting harder than ever to detect. They look authentic. This device was found in the Chelsea Market Basket earlier this month. And these devices collect your data and PIN number so thieves can charge your credit cards or clean out your bank account. Your best bet: don't swipe or insert the chip. Get a credit card you can tap. It is safer. Skimmers need that contact with the magnetic chip and mag stripe. Keep a close eye on your statements and accounts and set up alerts through your credit card and bank apps that text you every time a transaction has occurred. And try not to use your debit card at point of sale.
If you use your debit card and you punch in your PIN and they get that information, then they can make actual ATM withdrawals out of your bank account and liquidate your funds.
So I asked Robert, what about, you know, covering your hand as you punch in your PIN? And he said, well, that doesn't hurt, but understand that these new sophisticated skimmers can still detect your PIN whether it sees you put it in or not. We're live in Needham. I'm Mary Salaita, WCDB NewsCenter 5.
