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hpasekov
at July 22,2015
Is there a way to secure my credit card? The magnetic strip is very vulnerable. I wonder what would happen if he had to use it as debit and punch in the PIN. The new credit card with the chip in them are supposed to require a PIN with every purchase just for cases like this.
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428Mach1
at July 24,2015
Very informative. A low-tech operation with little overhead. I suspect that all of us have been subjected to this scheme at least one [I had it happen twice in a 4 month period] but the bank reimbursed my account. The impending use of RFID chips in the new credit cards will render these scanners obsolete and the thieves will have to "upgrade" their technology. I would hope that the issuing organizations will devise a more secure manner to encrypt or secure the cards. Maybe have a device serial number for the RFID chip that cannot be reproduced or read - just a hash computed at the time of transaction and compared to the the stored hash at the credit card clearing house in real time.
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haygaff
at October 01,2015
Oh my damn. I have had my identity taken and purchases made on my credit card fraudulently but I did not have any idea the level of effort it took. Or in this case the level of effort this person takes. Was it easy? Yes. With the right equipment. Is the equipment readily available....I so hope not. Do I wish that these people would just get an honest job and stop stealing the money that others are working hard for? YES.
Besides the skimmers, the system itself seemed like a rather low tech set up. Pretty easy to move and even easier to maintain.
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Beggsse
at October 02,2015
It was surprising to see the steps involved in creating and using fake credit cards. I would never have imagined that prepaid credit cards make it easy for thieves to create a viably functioning card to be used for purchases. It would seem like success is random depending upon the clerk checking the back of the card. The documentary didn't explain if there is a signature block on the back and an embossed name on the front (I don't think so). The identity thief actually utilized a lot of skills such as travel, acquiring the information, detailed focus on creation and a psychology in dealing with purchases and ultimate buyers. It makes me wonder if he is getting bored, hence the documentary, and his skills could be put to better use on the side of justice.
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hanna88
at October 09,2015
A restaurant we frequent just a few minutes away from us was just busted last year for a server skimming cards. He didn't take this guy's advice and bounce around which probably made it easy for the cops to link the victims to this restaurant and ultimately the thief. The fact that it happened so close to home, though, made me think twice about letting my card out of sight. Interesting to see the whole process these people go through in order to successfully run a stolen card.
