ATM Skimming While Traveling: How to Protect Your Card
ATM skimming — where a device captures your card data and PIN — costs travelers significant sums each year and is especially prevalent in tourist-heavy areas where machines see high volumes of unfamiliar users. The risk is manageable with a few consistent habits.
How ATM Skimming Works
Skimmers are physical devices attached to the card slot that read your card's magnetic stripe as it enters. A small camera or fake keypad overlay captures your PIN simultaneously. The thief later uses the captured data to clone your card or make unauthorized withdrawals.
Which ATMs Are Highest Risk
- •Standalone ATMs in tourist areas not attached to a bank branch
- •Machines in poorly lit areas or away from main streets
- •ATMs with card slots that look different from the rest of the machine (recently attached)
- •Machines in convenience stores, exchange bureaus, and souvenir shops
How to Check an ATM Before Using It
- •Wiggle the card slot before inserting your card — genuine slots are firmly attached; skimmers feel loose
- •Cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN, even if no one is watching
- •Look for anything that appears added on — extra plastic, a slightly different color on the card slot, a camera mounted above the screen
- •If anything feels wrong, use a different machine
Safer Alternatives
- •Use ATMs directly attached to bank branches, especially inside the bank lobby
- •Use contactless payment or travel cards (Wise, Revolut) to minimize ATM use
- •Withdraw larger amounts less frequently to reduce exposure
- •Enable real-time transaction notifications on your card so unauthorized charges appear immediately
- •Use chip-and-PIN rather than swipe wherever possible — chip transactions cannot be skimmed the same way
Editorial note: Travel safety guidance on Before You Go is compiled from government travel advisories, verified news sources, and traveler-submitted incidents. Content is reviewed for accuracy before publication. Read our methodology →