| In October 2007, 25-year-old Houstonian Meghan | | | | sneaks a peek at his PIN number as he enters it into |
| Whitmore had her bank account drained by an | | | | the legit card reader. You may think nobody could |
| unknown thief. It was a perfect case of identity | | | | possibly see what your PIN is if you type it in quickly |
| fraud. Meghan saw thousands of dollars taken out of | | | | enough, but thieves are paying attention. Sometimes, |
| ATMs by someone using her account number and | | | | they even have an accomplice in line behind you, or |
| even her PIN - all while her card was in her wallet. | | | | hovering nearby, to get a better look as you type |
| Amazingly, almost exactly a year later, Carol | | | | your PIN in full view of anyone watching closely. Most |
| Whitmore, Meg's mother, was also targeted by an | | | | people aren't uncomfortable typing in their PINs. The |
| identity thief who made fraudulent charges on her | | | | idea is that without your card information, your PIN is |
| debit card. Oddly, the card was still in Whitmore's | | | | useless, so if anyone saw you enter it, they couldn't |
| possession, just as her daughter's card had been. | | | | do anything with it. But not in this scam. Now the |
| How did this happen? Is it just bad luck in the family? | | | | criminals have both the information on your credit |
| No. Identity theft has become so widespread that it | | | | card and your PIN - everything they need to cause |
| can happen to anyone, and even seem to "strike | | | | serious damage to your bank account and credit. |
| twice". How can the Whitmores - and anyone - | | | | Once the thieves have your information, they can |
| protect their money? The key is to protect your | | | | use it to make a duplicate card and start a crime |
| whole identity - not just your name, but everything | | | | spree. They can even sell your information to |
| that makes you, you. Your account number, PIN, | | | | international crime syndicates, meaning "you" could be |
| passwords, and your social security number can all be | | | | making purchases across the globe in Japan within 24 |
| stolen by today's highly advanced identity thieves. So, | | | | hours of the initial scam. Fortunately, credit card |
| really, how could someone make ATM withdrawals or | | | | companies and banks are catching on and are |
| debit card purchases without even having the card in | | | | sympathetic to victims of this kind of scam. |
| their possession? It's a clever scam known to thieves | | | | However, the feeling of violation, the headache of |
| across the globe, but unfortunately, mostly unknown | | | | straightening out the situation, and the damage |
| to the unsuspecting victims. British TV hit "The Real | | | | caused by such a scam can take a long time to |
| Hustle" exposes these tricks with real-life | | | | recover from. Tips to Protect Your Identity From |
| demonstrations, showing us how cons can steal our | | | | Card Cloning Scams - Put your hand over your PIN |
| information, and what you can do to protect your | | | | when entering it so that nobody can sneak a peek. - |
| identity. The show calls the ATM card trick "Waitress | | | | Don't trust your waiter or waitress, no matter how |
| Card Cloning," though of course it could be done by | | | | nice they seem. - Don't let anyone walk away with |
| anyone in the service industry who handles your card | | | | your credit card, claiming the card reader is "in the |
| during payment. Here's how the scam works: In the | | | | back." - Always keep your credit card in sight. If you |
| example, a sweet-looking, friendly waitress serves a | | | | see something that looks suspiciously like a |
| couple some coffee. When it comes time to settle | | | | surreptitious swipe, do not be afraid to ask to see |
| the bill, the customer hands her his credit card, as we | | | | the manager. - Examine your bank and credit |
| all so often do. Then the waitress, who is actually | | | | statement closely and often -everyday if you have |
| one of the show's professional con exposers, Jess, | | | | Internet banking capabilities. The instant you see |
| "accidentally" drops the credit card. As she picks it up, | | | | fraudulent charges, alert your bank and cancel the |
| she swiftly swipes it through a hidden card reader in | | | | card. As easy as it is for some criminals to steal your |
| her pant leg (thieves also hide it in their pocket or | | | | information, it is just as easy to protect your identity. |
| apron). In an instant, that card reader has read the | | | | Make yourself aware of these common scams and |
| card's magnetic strip and copied the victim's personal | | | | remain constantly vigilant against such threats. |
| information. Then, as the "clumsy" Jess cheerfully | | | | Ralph Winn. 35 years in the Security System industry. |
| hands the card back to the customer, she even | | | | |