Card skimmers are real and will subtly steal your information

Recently on Reddit, users have been sharing their experiences with card skimmers and how easily they can steal your information.

A card skimmer is a device thieves slip over ATMs, EFTPOS machines, and any other locations that you'd use your card.

The device works exactly the same way as the normal card reader works, but instead of acknowledging your card has purchased something, they take your card details.

The thieves have been getting really crafty and will create their skimmers to look exactly like the EFTPOS or ATM machine that you are using.  

It only takes a couple of seconds for thieves to slip one over the machine.

A method to combat potential card skimming is using the chip in your card instead of swiping. This is because each time you use the chip, it will send a unique code to the vendor, compared to swiping, which has the same signature each time.

Wobbling the card reader might seem like a chore every time you go to pay for something, but it might save you a lot of money in the long run. Reddit user atlas5280 remembered to check for a card skimmer at this ATM, and was both surprised as well as relieved to find this skimmer on the machine.

The green part of the ATM is meant to stop card skimmers in their tracks, but it doesn't look too effective anymore.

At the end of the day, as long as your vigilant and remember to check when you pay for things, you should be fine.