In Mexico, bank scams have become more frequent, and a new scheme centered around ATMs has recently been detected: "card carving." This scam technique has started to proliferate at ATMs across the country, where criminals take advantage of users' ignorance to obtain their card and PIN in order to drain their bank accounts.
The National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Users of Financial Services (Condusef) has alerted about the "card carving," a method used by criminals to duplicate credit and debit cards. This fraud is carried out by well-organized groups that tamper with the ATM slot to jam the card or simulate a malfunction, leading a member of the criminal group to approach under the guise of offering help.
Once the criminal takes the victim's card, claiming they need to "clean" it for the ATM to read it, they exchange the original card for a fake without the victim noticing. Subsequently, when the victim inserts the fake card into the ATM and types their PIN, a second accomplice observes the PIN while the transaction is carried out.
To avoid falling into this type of fraud at ATMs, Condusef recommends not accepting help from strangers when using the ATM, covering the keypad while entering the PIN, checking the card before leaving, and securing the cash and receipt. In the event of being a victim of "card carving," it is advised to report the incident immediately. Condusef provides resources on its Financial Fraud portal and offers customer service through its hotline.
