A common way hackers steal people' financial data is by installing credit card skimmers on ATMs and payment terminals, which they use to record a card's information before emptying out the corresponding bank account. Security agencies have responded in kind, warning potential victims to be wary of suspicious-looking gadgets or accessories that may be attached to machines - with the gadgets/accessories in question being the credit card skimmer.
With technology as advanced as this, one might be inclined to believe that the installation of such a device would be a long process. However, it turns out the process is quite simple and could take as little as three seconds if the hacker is given ample opportunity.
In a video released by Miami Beach Police in Florida, we can see a group of thieves performing this very feat. First, two of the thieves distract the clerk working behind the counter of the convenience store, while the third attaches the card skimmer atop the store's debit machine. The distraction only lasts a few seconds and that's all the time the third accomplice needed to ensure that neither the store clerks, nor actual customers, would be able to spot the skimmer.
Someone did eventually notice what happened however, but by then the culprits were long gone. Luckily since the incident was caught on camera (granted, it might not have been viewed until it was too late) so police were able to use it to pinpoint exactly when the skimmer was installed. Now, the Miami Beach Police are turning to the public for help in hopes of identifying the culprit.
However, the real takeaway with this story is not what the police are doing, but what happened in the first place. Hackers installing a credit card skimmer is one thing, but being able to do so within seconds while the clerk's back turned is another. You'll even notice in the video that a man with a red vest on was just a few feet away while the incident occurred.
The lesson in this case would be to be extra careful the next time you intend to make any transactions with your credit/debit card outside, since it clearly doesn't take much effort for thieves to steal your information. Even more importantly, this might be the indicator that its finally time to switch back to cash.
Watch the hackers in action in the video below:
