Keeping your hard-earned money safe has never been more difficult with the rise in scams.
And seemingly everyday, Canadians are getting caught up in some scheme they did not see coming.
Just last month, an Ontario woman was reportedly scammed out of $86,000 after thinking she was on the phone with a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) investigator who said her banking information was used in a money laundering operation.
And in case you thought some scams are more obvious than others, and believe you couldn’t possibly fall victim to anything, think again.
In fact, a viral video on TikTok showed how easy it is to have your financial information compromised, even during an innocent trip to the grocery store.
TikTok user @keepityorkie was checking out at a cashier counter at a supermarket in Los Angeles when he noticed something odd with the card reader. He proceeded to pull it apart and revealed an identical card reader beneath it.
“This is a skimmer, it’s how you take people’s money and get their credit card information,” he told the clerk who seemed unaware of its existence.
The video has been viewed more than 17 million times so far.
“Be aware before you tap or skim your credit card. Don’t be a victim,” the caption read.
Online privacy experts at EarthWeb, describe the phenomenon as a tool used by criminals to steal card information and PINs from unsuspecting users.
These devices are also often placed discreetly on ATM machines and can capture card data when someone inserts their cards to make transactions.
“When using ATMs, inspect the machine for any signs of tampering or skimming devices. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent hidden cameras from recording your keystrokes, and regularly monitor your bank statements for any unauthorized transactions,” Trevor Cooke, technology writer and privacy and security researcher, said.
And as seen in the previous video, scammers are clearly getting more creative and putting skimmers in plain sight where victims are more likely to put their guard down.
According to Toronto police, identity theft can happen to anyone and is a rapidly growing crime that “affects more people every day in Toronto and around the world.”
“Surprisingly most people think it will not happen to them. Reasons for this increase include the proliferation of card-skimming devices and the hacking of computers,” the force’s website reads.
