Scammers usually deal with till operators or cashiers of places that they know high value clients usually buy. For instance, this can be at a fuel station whereby the value of a client can be judged by the vehicle which they drive.

They install what is referred to as a skimming device which is similar to a Point-of-Sale Machine (POS). What this device does is take your card information when it is swiped on the skimming device. Since it is similar to the normal devices, most people might not tell the difference.

The operator will indicate that the POS machine is not working, referring to the skimming device and then will take out the real POS machine to facilitate the transaction. Whilst you are putting your Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the machine, they either observe that closely or they have a camera directed overhead that will capture you input your PIN.

The scammers reproduce a card that they can use to transact and since they know your PIN, they can make purchase just like you can do. They usually make multiple purchases of high value goods such as televisions and electronic gadgets within a short space of time, i.e., before you even get the chance to block your account.

By the time that you action for you card to be blocked by the bank, they would have already withdrawn a large sum of money or bought goods that they can resale.

These kinds of devices are usually placed in areas whereby it is hard to notice, and skimming devices are mostly used at night. The skimmers can take your card away from your vision so that you do not notice that your card is being used on a device that is not an actual POS machine.