The world of 3D printing appears ready to deliver unto us yet another worrisome development.
Recently discovered on several ATMs in Sydney, Australia were credit card skimmers produced using 3D printers. The concept of 3D printing in recent years has gained steam as costs have plummeted and flexibility when it comes to what can be created has expanded. Make no mistake, however: these credit card skimmers were anything but simple pieces of plastic.
Perhaps the first skimmers of its kind to be discovered, these devices contained several pieces of technology that assisted the thieves who installed them. Wireless transmitters and cameras were found in these units, which made it possible for remote retrieval of data and the capture of PIN numbers from unsuspecting ATM users.
Even more worrisome is the fact that these skimmers – designed and printed to fit specific ATM models – will make detection even more difficult in the future. Combined with the integrated technology found in these skimmers, the implications for credit card theft in the future via skimming has exponentially increased. Security analysts are worried about this trend, as increased levels of scrutiny will be required to identify credit card skimmers that are designed to blend in with their surroundings and capture data in all circumstances.
There are black market websites that allow thieves to buy and sell bulk credit card information. Depending on the type of lists, one thousand credit card numbers can be purchased for as little as a few dollars. In addition to this, users can also find (in many cases, for free) schematics on how to 3D print various forms of credit card tech – like skimmers – which can be used to facilitate this demand.
An increasing number of reports have emerged from municipalities and small towns of credit card skimmers being found on various ATMs. It would appear that this trend has proliferated even the smallest of enclaves in many areas, which is worrisome for both banks and consumers as they consider where – if anywhere – their financial information will remain secure. Since the average person does not know how to identify a credit card skimmer, it appears that these increasingly sophisticated techniques will continue to prove viable for many thieves.
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