One recent warm and sunny morning on Florida's Gulf Coast, Eleanor breezed out from under the sheltering palm trees of the RV park to do a little grocery shopping. She decided to stop at the local branch of their bank and withdraw some cash for odds and ends. In the convenient but busy shopping center where the bank was located, as she entered her ATM password number (PIN), she didn't notice the man standing a short distance behind her. If she'd looked, he would have appeared to be talking on a cell phone but, in fact, the cell phone contained a camera that recorded her PIN the moment she entered it.

It was actually several weeks before Eleanor and Harry discovered something was wrong. By then, they had large overdraft charges, a black mark on their credit report, and were short of cash. They were victims of identity theft. The thief had made a copy of their ATM card and was drawing gradually on their account and probably several other parties' accounts at the same time. When it no longer served his purposes, he simply drained the accounts. It took many months, hassles, hardship, and ruined travel plans before Eleanor and Harry were able to straighten out their financial affairs. It could have been worse. Others have been robbed of everything, including their homes, by this kind of scam.

You've probably heard a lot about identity theft and may think you're protected. Unfortunately, as technology advances, the devices and subterfuges used by criminals also become more sophisticated. Their latest trick consists of tiny "skimming" devices inserted in an ATM machine's swiping slot. These are capable of reading your card's magnetic strip. That's how the thief was able to access Eleanor's account. All he needed was the PIN. The beauty of this for the unscrupulous is that they don't even need to be on the scene to pirate a PIN. A concealed camera near the ATM -- or even one that's part of the skimmer — can do the job when a customer punches in their number on the keypad. The thief can then make a duplicate of the card and begin drawing money from the account — even open new accounts in the cardholder's name, make purchases, and destroy the victim's credit.

RVers and other travelers are especially vulnerable to this kind of crime because they don't like to carry cash and ATMs are so abundant and convenient, with locations in shopping malls, hotel lobbies, airports, and "quik marts". On the other hand, these places provide easy pickings for thieves in a crowded environment where they can remain inconspicuous.

Here are a few pointers for protecting yourself when using an ATM machine:

1) Use machines that have security cameras located nearby; it's less likely criminals will be lurking there.

2) Be vigilant when using an ATM, and never accept a stranger's offer to help with your transaction.

3) Try to use the ATM when it's not busy (no lines), but avoid nighttime hours.

4) If you're in your hometown, try to use the same machine whenever possible so you'll be aware if any alterations have been made to the card slot, instructions, or any part of the process. Better yet, if at all possible, go inside the bank and conduct your transactions the "old fashioned way" - with a live teller.

5) Check your bank statements as soon as you receive them for any transactions you can't account for. Or, better yet, sign up for banking online so that you can access your account as often as necessary and remain vigilant of all transactions.

6) Check your credit report at least twice a year. For a small annual fee, most credit card companies offer an additional service to notify you whenever anyone accesses your credit history — it is well worth it.

7) If it appears that fraud has occurred, report it to your bank immediately.

Awareness is your best bet for avoiding identity theft. We'd all like to be able to relax and trust everyone. Sadly, an unprincipled few can wreak havoc with the lives of many, as Eleanor and Harry learned the hard way. For today's RVers, the downside of high technology means having to take extra precautions with your financial affairs. Your efforts can mean the difference between living the dream and losing it.

RVCG Staff