ATM Skimming and Shimming Activity is becoming more and more evident. 

Skimming is the gathering of information off of your card's magnetic strip.

Shimming is the gathering of information from your card's microchip.

We encourage you to inspect ATM machines before use and cover the keypad when entering your PIN. I you feel any type of resistance when inputting your card, please consider using a different ATM machine.

How To Protect Yourself from Shimming

Here are five proactive steps you can take to protect yourself from shimming:

1. Use contactless payments. Use your Summit FCU debit card in your Mobile Wallet through Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
2. Pay inside. At a gas station, pay for your fill-up inside the station rather than at the pump.
3. Turn to financial institution owned ATMs. Try to use a FI-owned ATM rather than a non-FI ATM. Non-FI ATMs, such as those you might find at convenience stores, may not be as secure as those operated by financial institutions. An SFCU ATM locator can be found on our mobile app or by clicking here.
4. Look for a safer ATM. Crooks tend to install shimming devices in ATMs in poorly lit, less public places.  
5. Watch the card slot.  Pay attention to how easily your card fits into a card reader slot.  If it is difficult to slide your card into the slot, be suspicious.  This might mean a crook placed a shimming device inside the card reader.

What to Do if You're a Victim of Credit Card Shimming

While you may have taken the right steps to prevent card shimming, you still might become a victim.  So, what do you do if that happens?

• Contact the card issuer right away.  As soon as you're aware that your credit or debit card has been shimmed, reach out to the card issuer or financial institution.
• Set up fraud alerts. You have the right to request a free fraud alert through Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. A Fraud alert asks creditors to verify your identity before issuing new credit in your name.  Summit FCU also offers the Card Valet app to be used with your debit card so you can set up extra usage alerts and have more control.
• Keep an eye on your accounts. Review your credit card and bank activity to see if any suspicious transactions show up.
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Visit the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov website to submit a report about suspected shimming.