Ways to prevent card cloning at supermarkets

IN the previous article we saw how big a problem is card cloning globally, and in our own country. The global loss to card cloning was estimated at US$183,3 billion between the periods 2015 to 2020.

To date, the global loss might be well above US$200 billion due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apart from giving an overview of the problem of card cloning in Zimbabwe, the article also looked at two scenarios on how card cloners attack their targets or victims in supermarkets while shopping.

In the first scenario, we noted that the card cloners identify or pick on their target or victim by the size of grocery.

The card cloners will imitate those making big groceries and then closely follow them to the point of sale machine or even go in front of the victim.

This action is deliberate, and meant to position “card cloners” in a place where they can view the numbers on the swipe card of the victim.

Once they capture at least the last numbers on the card, they take that information to produce a duplicate card.

They can memorise the numbers and at times secretly take a photograph of the card with their cellphone camera.

If they view victim’s pin it is an added advantage.

The second scenario was that of connivance between card cloning fraudsters and till operators where shop syndicates were paid commission of about 10 percent per every card for information provided.

Let us suppose the shop employee steals a client’s bank card details and the card cloner manages to make $500 000, this means the shop syndicate gets $50 000.

It was also noted that in the instances where the PIN could not be obtained, the criminals would simply initiate a PIN by-pass and then shop at specific POS machines that do not require a PIN upon swiping, but rather approve the transaction automatically.

As we look at this phenomenon of card cloning, it is important to note that the POS machines can not differentiate between a ‘genuine card’ and a ‘duplicate fraudulent card’. As long as the details or information on the card are correct, a fraudulent transaction will sail through.

Given the complexity of this problem, it is important for everyone to be alert when shopping.

I therefore suggest the following measures to prevent or minimise the chances of falling victim to card cloners while buying groceries in a supermarket;

• Make sure you keep reasonable distance between you and the next person either in front or behind you when in the queue to the point of sale. Maintaining the Covid-19 social distance in the shop can well keep you far from your attacker.

• Ensure that you keep your card securely and never expose the card numbers and PIN lest your attacker may capture them.

• Treat any person whom you don’t know in the supermarket as a potential threat.

• Ensure that you shield your enter it on the POS machine.

• Never over trust the till operator by letting them to hold your card for a long time. They may be a syndicate and the longer the time they spend with your card, the more the chances of memorising the card numbers.

• When someone unreasonably places themselves close to you, don’t hesitate to tell them to keep distance and cleverly watch their actions and discern their motive.

Watch out for card cloners when shopping at supermarkets and avoid being a victim to cyber fraudsters.

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