FAQ

Skimmers are little devices that may be attached to hardware like point of sale (POS) terminals at physical retail locations or even at ATMs, which are commonly used by fraudsters. The magnetic stripe on the back of the physical credit card or debit card is read by these skimming devices, which function as card readers, and they capture the credit card information of an unaware victim, including card numbers, PINs, and CVV data. They are also affordable and available for buy online.

On the POS terminal or ATM, fraudsters can use a phony keypad to obtain the PIN information of the legitimate cardholder. Once they have this data, they can use the stolen CVV, PIN, and credit card information to create a new physical card and conduct fraudulent purchases in the name of the legitimate cardholder. Until the cardholder checks their bank accounts, and financial documents, or notices a change in their credit score, something may have occurred that they are unaware of.

Cloning also no longer requires physical execution. Fraudsters can now steal a large number of card details utilizing remote scanning equipment thanks to contactless technology by just strolling down a busy street carrying a covert scanner in their backpack or purse.

According to Feedzai’s study, Discreet Cloned Cards have become a worldwide phenomenon and have increased by 34% globally. A pair of individuals were detained by Irish police last year, and 66 skimmed credit cards were also seized. Over 350 counterfeit cards were only recently recovered by Indian police. Six persons were recently detained by the FBI in the United States for utilizing card skimming technology to steal more than $200,000 from petrol stations.

Discreet Cloned Cards is a fairly elaborate criminal scheme. More specifically:

1. An accomplice is recruited – someone with physical access to credit cards e.g. a cashier, restaurant server etc.
2. They are given a skimmer – a compact machine used to capture card details. This can be a separate machine or an add-on to the card reader.
3. The customer hands their card to the accomplice, as payment.
4. The accomplice swipes the card through the skimmer, in addition to the POS machine used for normal payment.
5. The accomplice hands back the card to the unsuspecting customer.
6. The thief transfers the details captured by the skimmer to the magnetic strip a counterfeit card, which could be a stolen card itself.
7. The counterfeit card can now be used in the way a legitimate card would, or for additional fraud such as gift carding and other carding.

Of course, there are variations on this. For instance, some criminals will affix skimmers to handheld card readers or ATMs. The outcome is the same as long as their customers swipe or enter their card as usual and the thief can come back to get their device: All the data stored on a credit or debit card’s magnetic strip is captured when the card is swiped through the skimmer device.

In order to exploit the stolen card information in more contexts, the thieves may also shoulder-surf or other social engineering strategies to learn the card’s PIN or even the owner’s billing address.

The legality of cloned cards can vary depending on the purpose and usage. Cloned cards used for collecting or gaming purposes are generally legal, as long as they are not used for fraudulent activities or counterfeit purposes. However, it is important to familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations in your jurisdiction to ensure comp