Michael Perez tells how he became a cybercriminal.
He had been good at computers and programming since he was a child until one day a friend told him about the idea of building illegal card readers and placing them at gas stations across the country to make money, he told CBS News.
“I opened the access to the gas station pump with a universal key, I opened it.
And inside I took out a reader and then I put my modified reader, "he tells CBS.
In three days he could steal up to $30,000, according to what he told the aforementioned media.
The FBI explains that
skimming
occurs when devices illegally installed in ATMs, point-of-sale terminals or gasoline pumps capture data or record the PIN code of cardholders.
Criminals use the data to create fake debit or credit cards and steal victims' accounts.
It is estimated that this type of theft costs financial institutions and consumers more than
$1 billion a year.
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According to the FICO data analysis company cited by CBS, which supervises more than 2,000 million financial transactions a month,
the number of cards compromised in fraudulent operations increased 368%
last year compared to the previous one.
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“I think we are seeing an
explosion of
skimming
(theft) activity after the pandemic,” TJ Horan, FICO's vice president of product management, told the quoted media.
Cybercriminals
"are constantly evolving"
and authorities are "constantly trying to find ways to keep up with them," said Charles Leopard, deputy special agent for the Secret Service office.
In recent months, this type of theft has also affected thousands of Americans who rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, have had funds stolen from their accounts, according to CBS News.
After spending more than two years in federal prison, Perez is now working with a security company to help law enforcement apprehend cybercriminals by creating software and technology to prevent fraud.
“I want to keep doing it.
I do what I like and I feel good, ”he declared to the aforementioned medium.
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How to detect
skimming
Devices can usually be detected by performing quick visual or physical inspections before swiping or inserting a card.
To avoid being a victim of
skimming
, the FBI recommends:
Inspect ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and other card readers before using them.
Look for anything loose, crooked, damaged, or scratched.
Do not use any card reader if you notice anything unusual.
Pull the edges of the keypad before entering your PIN.
Then, cover the keypad when you enter the PIN to prevent cameras from recording your input.
Use well-lit, indoor ATMs, which are less vulnerable targets.
Be on the lookout for skimming
devices
in tourist areas, which are popular targets.
Use debit and credit cards with chip technology.
In the United States, there are fewer data-stealing devices with chips than with magnetic stripes.
Avoid using your debit card when you have linked accounts.
Use a credit card instead.
Contact your financial institution if the ATM does not return your card after completing or canceling a transaction.
