How to Protect Your Credit Cards From Web Skimming Fraud
You’ve likely heard of skimming —a type of fraud in which criminals install physical devices capable of reading your payment card data at ATMs, gas stations, and POS terminals. If you insert your debit or credit card into one of these counterfeit devices, your data will be stored for later download or transmitted wirelessly in real time to a device controlled by the fraudsters, who then use this information to steal funds from your accounts.
Unfortunately, online shoppers are not immune to this scam. Web skimming is a type of cyberattack that uses malicious code to steal credit card information during checkout, and researchers have uncovered an ongoing campaign targeting major payment systems and, by extension, consumers.
Online credit card skimming
Web skimmer attacks, commonly known as “Magecart” campaigns, begin with the injection of malicious JavaScript code into e-commerce websites and payment portals. When the checkout page loads, the skimmer replaces it with a fake form that collects card numbers, expiration dates, card verification codes, and billing or mailing addresses—everything the attackers need to use your card for fraudulent purchases.
Fake payment forms use a visually similar branding to the real thing to minimize suspicion. After submitting payment information to the scammer, the user receives an error message and is redirected to the legitimate checkout page—a process designed to make it appear as if the user simply entered their information incorrectly.
Web skimmers are typically designed to evade detection and can even self-destruct, making them difficult to identify even for website administrators. They also use secure hosting, which protects cybercriminals from takedown requests and law enforcement actions.
How to protect your payment card
Unfortunately, consumers can’t do much about the presence of web skimmers, but they can protect themselves from them. Signs of online fraud are also indicators of skimming—for example, offers and discounts that seem too good to be true point to a potential scammer or a malicious site, where the likelihood of stealing your card details is higher. Shopping with trusted merchants will reduce (though not completely eliminate) the risk. You should also be vigilant for any unusual steps during checkout, such as redirects or error messages, and refuse any suspicious transactions.
If you suspect your payment information may have been stolen, monitor your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions and enable transaction alerts for real-time updates. Remember that credit cards offer more robust security than debit cards. You can also use virtual cards for online purchases , which keeps your real card information private and protects you from future fraud. (However, it’s worth noting that virtual cards have some drawbacks. For example, you may lose some of the protection provided by your primary card issuer, making it more difficult to get a refund.)