| On Jan 17th, 2008 a sting operation in | | | | now they can be purchased various places |
| Vancouver, BC thwarted a ring of credit card | | | | online. By swiping your card the device |
| counterfeiters living the life of luxury | | | | pulls all data required for counterfeiting |
| entirely funded with other people's credit. | | | | right off the card, which can be later |
| The goods hauled away by police filled | | | | downloaded to a computer. Often the data is |
| several 3 ton moving trucks and values were | | | | sent overseas to factories that produce high |
| estimated between $70,000 and $100,000 | | | | quality fraudulent cards by the thousands. |
| dollars. The perpetrators had used stolen | | | | Cards are then sent out to crime rings |
| and manufactured identities to finance | | | | throughout the world. |
| everything from high end cameras, | | | | |
| televisions, and jewelery to automobiles and | | | | Some of the standard security features found |
| a multi-million dollar home. Accounts seized | | | | on most types of cards include embossing, |
| were valued at over $10 million dollars. | | | | micro printing, and printing only visible |
| | | | under black light or ultraviolet light. As |
| Credit card fraud is a multi-billion dollar | | | | technology improves, so does the need for |
| crime in North America. It is becoming an | | | | increased security features. Some cards now |
| increasingly popular form of identity theft | | | | contain a microchip inside of them which is |
| because of advances in printing technologies | | | | almost impossible to replicate. Countries |
| and it can be done anonymously with little or | | | | that have implemented this system have seen a |
| no risk of prosecution even if it is | | | | reduction of this type of credit card fraud |
| discovered. Often card numbers are used to | | | | reduced by as much as 80%. Some countries |
| make purchases over the phone or internet, | | | | also require a PIN number be entered at the |
| but sometimes advanced schemers may create an | | | | time of credit card processing as well. It |
| actual copy of your credit card complete with | | | | is the responsibility of store managers to |
| magnetic stripe, signature, and security | | | | implement procedures to protect customer's |
| features. | | | | information. |
| | | | |
| Scam artists have dozens of ways of gathering | | | | Credit card providers, such as Visa and |
| your information. It may be as simple as | | | | MasterCard have security procedures and |
| convincing an employee at a restaurant, or | | | | protocols businesses must abide by in order |
| gas station to copy down credit card numbers | | | | to safeguard both the merchant account and |
| throughout the day, or as advanced as | | | | the individual. If you do notice someone has |
| planting a bug on point of sale equipment, or | | | | skimmed your card during a transaction call |
| even unplugging and replacing a card reader | | | | the provider and put a hold on the account. |
| right off the checkout table in a retail | | | | Make a mental note of the individual's |
| outlet. Skimming is the most common and | | | | physical description, such as height, weight, |
| fastest way schemers collect credit card | | | | hair or eye color, skin tone, and what |
| data. The individual carries a small box the | | | | clothing they are wearing. Immediately |
| size of a pager or cell phone. In the past | | | | report the suspicious individual to law |
| you had to make a skimmer yourself, however | | | | enforcement. |