In Mexico, bank fraud has become increasingly frequent, with a new method recently detected that focuses on ATMs. This is known as "card skimming," a scam method that is proliferating in the country, where criminals exploit user information to empty their bank accounts.
The National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Users of Financial Services (Condusef) has warned that card skimming is used by criminals to duplicate credit and debit cards. This type of fraud is carried out by organized groups that alter the ATM slot so that the card gets stuck, appearing to malfunction. At that moment, a member of the criminal group approaches the user to offer help and subtly takes the card under the pretext of cleaning or fixing it, taking the opportunity to replace it with a fake one.
Once the victim uses the fake card at the ATM and enters their PIN, a second accomplice observes the code while the victim attempts to carry out the transaction. To avoid becoming a victim of this type of fraud, Condusef recommends not accepting help from strangers at the ATM, protecting the keyboard when entering the PIN, and checking the card, cash, and receipt before leaving. In case of falling victim to "card skimming," it is advised to report the incident as soon as possible.
Condusef provides resources on its Financial Fraud portal and offers a customer service hotline. It is important to take precautions when using ATMs to avoid falling into the hands of scammers.
