Sheldon, Iowa — A group of area law enforcement officers and banking professionals from northwest Iowa came together in Sheldon Tuesday noon for a seminar on credit card fraud, conducted by Shazam, and sponsored by Citizens State Bank in Sheldon.
The presenter for the seminar, Michael Burke, is a former law enforcement officer who now works as a Robbery and Crisis Management Consultant for Shazam. Burke’s presentation dealt mainly with credit card fraud through the use of skimmers that steal the information off your credit or debit card, allowing the bad guy to make a copy of your card that can be used to rack up thousands of dollars in charges.
KIWA asked Burke what card users can do to make sure there’s no skimming device on the ATM machine, Point-Of-Sale terminal, or gas pump that they’re planning to use. He said that, since most of the devices in use by the bad guys are outside the machine itself, pull on the card reader to make sure it doesn’t come off in your hand.
He says that when you’re fueling up your vehicle, in addition to pulling on the card reader before swiping your card, look and make sure that the tape seals on the pump are intact.
Burke says the card skimmers have been a problem on the coasts for a few years, but are now beginning to show up here in the heartland.
He says the bad guys are getting very creative in the ways they steal your information.
Burke says that when you’re entering a PIN number, whether on a fuel pump, a Point-Of-Sale terminal, or an ATM, first be aware of your surroundings, then shield the machine’s keypad from any prying eyes, or hidden camers, while you enter your PIN.
Photo at top of page: Michael Burke answers a question for Sheldon Police Officer David Dykstra
