Credit Card Skimmer caught: Protect your credit cards by checking accounts for fraud.

The new rules for getting credit card fraud at bay. Never let that card out of your sight, and check your account constantly for suspect charges.

Think twice before using your credit cards for low cost transactions where low paid workers serve you.

A Chicago man pleaded guilty Tuesday to organizing an ATM “skimming” ring that stole more than $200,000 from diners using bank or credit cards at restaurants and attractions across the city, including Wrigley Field.

Joseph Woods, 32, pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to commit a financial crime before Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diane Cannon, who sentenced him to five years in prison, according to the Illinois Attorney General’s office, which prosecuted the case.

Woods organized an identity theft and bank fraud scheme which “skimmed” information from credit cards at several restaurants, including RL on the Magnificent Mile, Taco Bell, McDonald’s and a food vendor operating at Wrigley Field, according to a release from the attorney general’s office. More than $200,000 was stolen using the victims’ bank and credit cards.

Food Service employees accepted payments to commit the credit card skimming fraud.

Woods paid employees of the restaurants and eateries to skim customer credit card information using a small card reader provided by Woods, prosecutors said. Employees would swipe customers’ cards, giving Woods access to account information, with which he created counterfeit credit cards and made phony purchases.

Compromised in the scheme were accounts from Chase, U.S. Bank, Citibank, Harris Bank, American Express, Bank of America and Fifth Third Bank, all of which assisted in the investigation and notified potential victims.

Co-defendants in the credit card skimming fraud have cases pending.

Skimming operations are a growing threat to your credit card account.
To protect yourself:

1. Consider using cash for mall transactions to minimize credit card use especially on low cost transactions.
2. Use a debit card for these transactions.
3. Check credit card bills and financial statements regularly for unauthorized charges.
4. Report any suspect charges to your bank immediately.
5. Never allow your card out of your site. never hand your credit card to the waiter at your table. Insist on paying at the the counter so you can see the transaction.
6. Remember that even then the card reader may be swapped by the skimmer gang. so the debit card is always the safest way to go. You can only be cleaned out for the amount you have on the card at the time.

Rick Adlam: Mr Mortgage