By Delynda Pilon

A handful of residents of Bow Island took a financial hit after being defrauded by a skimming scam in Medicine Hat recently.

Skimming usually involves a legitimate looking electronic device which fraudulently copies your financial information and is often used in conjunction with a pinhole camera to get your pin number.

Judi Solberg, the branch president of Bow Island’s Servus Credit Union said they are aware of where this particular skimming device was, however they aren’t allowed to discuss specifics since the incident is under investigation by the RCMP.

“It is amazing how those crooks work,” she said. “We have really been lucky here. There have just been a few incidents.”She said many other financial institutions were also tapped with cards from the Royal Bank, the Bank of Montreal and ATB being skimmed during the same scam, which involved a false plate.

Michael Dickinson, a spokesperson from Servus said there are ways for consumers to protect themselves from these scams.

“In a nutshell, protect your pin number,” he said. “Don’t share it with anyone. Cover it when you use the terminal. Don’t write it down on a piece of paper and keep it next to your card in your wallet. Without your pin number, your debit card will not work.”

He added that, unfortunately, skimming is a pretty rampant crime in Canada. Organized crime rings might hit an area and skim a number of cards, then sell them. Daily withdrawals will be made off the card, hitting the limit, until the activity is discovered or the account is emptied. Petty criminals also often make use of skimmed cards, partying at your expense, purchasing gas or buying themselves that coveted big screen television.

He said another safety measure is to always check your account activity.

While daily limits are in place to protect consumers, Dickinson said another good practice is to be aware of what is happening in your account.

“The bank sends a statement out for a reason. Look for unusual transactions,” he said, adding that a purchase on your card in Edmonton when you haven’t left the area should raise an alarm. “Report it to your financial institution right away.”

He said financial institutions carry insurance or are self-insured, and once a customer has shown he is not involved in the fraud, the money is reimbursed.

“For example, if you were compromised by a pinhole camera, no problem. But, once again, you are your own best protection.”Shawn Ohler, a spokesman for ATB Financial, echoed much of what Dickinson said.

“Shield your card at an ATM or merchant terminal. Be on guard for skimming devices,” he said.

He added anything unusual, like exposed wires, might give the scam away.

“If you are ever at all suspicious or if you notice the slightest variation, go to a representative from the financial institution and ask. They are trained to spot it.”

He reiterated that checking your account regularly is also important, an even easier task now that many people use on-line banking.

Both financial institutions are moving towards chip card technology, however both representatives stated that protecting your pin number will always be a priority in battling fraudulent activity.