When it comes to protecting our personal and financial information, our thoughts typically jump to tech savvy scammers who send email viruses, hack databases, or try to steal our credit card information online. And while these bad guys abound, some thieves prefer doing things the old fashioned way.
If you’ve been following our blog for a little while, you’ve probably noticed a trend. We post a lot of articles about protecting your personal and financial information. Why? Because, we’ve seen the consequences of identity theft. And trust us, they’re not pretty!
Have you ever found yourself saying: I’m too smart to get a virus like that on MY computer? Famous last words… Scammers have become much savvier, and many of us are falling for their schemes, especially when it comes to opening email attachments.
In the “good old days,” scams were easy to spot. They came in the form of a poorly written email or a suspicious phone call. Things have definitely changed! Much of the world has gone mobile, and so have the bad guys.
A thief stealing from unsuspecting ATM users is not new. However, it no longer means they hang out until the money is withdrawn and then rob the customers. The current trend is ATM Skimming. A crime ring in New York compromised over 26,000 transactions of 1,400 issuers in this manner. Losses were in the range of $3.5 million. Recently Wichita, Kansas’ police found seven card skimmers at various financial institutions in the city.