Chennai: Well this latest invention has made the modern day thieves job to rob very easily. The thieves can now easily read the magnetic strip of your ATM card without even snatching it from you. A remote skimmer gadget which supports the thief to read the ATM in your hand by standing close to you, is available in the market, say cyber experts.

Many cardholders reveal their pin number in hotels and petrol pumps, which helps cyber thieves clone cards. There are cases where the customers write the pin number on the back of the card allowing miscreants to draw money.

Mr V. Rajendran, president of Cyber Society of India, a voluntary forum, said cyber thieves easily exploit the cards since the consumer is very causal in sharing the pin number in public places. “A consumer standing in the queue in a crowded mall or supermarket tells the pin number loudly to the cashier without fear. You should tell the cashier that you would enter the pin yourself, and never allow others to know it.”

He said it is important that cardholders change their pin after using it in a hotel or supermarket to prevent cloning or misuse. Mr Rajendran adds, “In big textile showrooms and jewellery shops, glasses are fitted on top and your card number could be scanned without your knowing.” He said it was safe to have limited online shopping and buy things directly from the store with cash and not cards.

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