Better Business Bureau Warns Against Credit Card Shimmers

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers against credit card shimmers.

Shimmers are a paper-thin, card-size shim containing an embedded microchip and flash storage that’s inserted into the “dip and wait” card slot of an ATM or gas pump payment terminal. It stays there and is meant to take data off your credit or debit card’s EMV chip. The intercepted data is used to create a magnetic stripe version of the card that can be used in payment terminals that haven’t been updated with EMV chip technology.

Shimmers are able to gather information from the chip on the card but the BBB says the main concern is how hard they are to detect.

A shimmer, named for its slim size, fits inside a card reader and can be quickly installed by a criminal who is pretending to make a purchase or withdrawal. Once installed, microchips on the device record information from chip cards, including the PIN. Thieves are able to retrieve the information by inserting a special card that downloads the information.

BBB suggests always keeping a close eye on your credit card statements and debit accounts and immediately report any suspicious activity. It’s also been noted that shimmers will sometimes cause inserted cards to become stuck. If something seems peculiar during a transaction or bank withdrawal, make the store or bank aware.

Other ways to protect yourself from shimmers include using contactless tap and go features on your card instead of swiping, going inside to a teller when withdrawing cash at a bank and cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN.

For more information and other tips, visit bbb.org/atlanta.