This is what a credit-card skimmer looks like

New York City’s transit authority has released photos of a device fraudsters used to skim credit card information from commuters buying metrocards from a vending machine.

The perpetrators installed their own card reader in the machine, and then glued a hidden camera above the machine to record patrons punching in their pins. The camera was disguised as an electrical outlet.

Read: Man pens dead dad’s signature to alter will

A customer noticed the card reader, pulled it out and handed it to the attendant on duty at its 59^th Street Columbus Circle Station. The transit authority has since checked all of its vending machines for similar devices.

See photos here.

Also read:

8 tips to protect against identity theft

Privacy rules to get tougher

Staff

The staff of Advisor.ca have been covering news for financial advisors since 1998.