In effort to assist CalFresh recipients in remaining vigilant when using their CalFresh EBT card at POS devices, there are some precautions they can take to avoid falling victim to a skimmer:
* Stay aware – Look at the speakers, monitor, lock, card reader, keypad
and any other component for scratches, glue or other signs of tampering.
* Eye spy – Holes that look out of place may be hiding a camera.
* That doesn’t belong – Does a component look oddly out of place? It
could be a color or material that contrasts other parts of the machine. It
could be sitting strangely or obscuring graphics or icons on the machine
that should be seen clearly.
* The wiggle test – Try to wiggle the card reader without inserting your
card. Does it seem wobbly? If so, don’t use it.
* Watch for broken seals – At the gas station, check for security seals
on gas pump panels. The seal will read as void if the door has been opened.
* Look at surroundings – Check nearby machines to make a comparison.
* Is this area safe? – Avoid using machines in less crowded or shady-looking
locations. Indoor machines are usually safer than the ones outside.
* Report incidents – If you notice something suspicious, report it to
the bank or business running the machines.