Skim Swipe can save countless hours of opening and searching through POS retail card swiping readers and terminals. Simply swipe the unit through any card reader the same way you would a credit or debit card and you get instant results – green light means no skimmer and red light (and beep) indicates a skimmer is present. Skim Swipe was developed by the same engineers that created Skim Scan and BlueSleuth Bluetooth skimmer locator already in use by dozens of local, state and federal skimmer task forces, loss prevention and store managers.

Skim Swipe instantly detects deep and overlay card skimmers hidden inside POS (Point of Sale) retail terminals found primarily in convenience stores. No hardware installation or modifications are required. Simply swipe it through to determine if a card skimmer is present. Skim Swipe does not work with ‘dip’ or ‘insert’ magnetic stripe readers – use Skim Scan for those readers.

U.S. Card Skimming Fraud Grows 700+% in First Half of 2022

According to FICO, card skimming fraud has exploded in 2022. Skim Swipe allows law enforcement, skimmer fraud task forces, weights and measures service agents and owners/managers/operators of gas stations, banks and retailers to detect hidden card skimmers instantly. By performing regular scans and audits of all POS payment terminals, ATMs, gas pumps, vending machines and any kiosks, owners can ensure safe and secure shopping for their customers while avoiding lengthy shutdowns during fraud and insurance investigations by authorities. Using a dedicated tool such as Skim Swipe can save hours of tedious searching through gas pumps, ATMs, kiosks and other mag stripe payment terminals for hidden bluetooth card skimmers.

Credit and debit card skimming is a growing criminal enterprise. According to U.S. Secret Service, skimmer crime rings are responsible for billions in theft each year. This doesn’t just include wealthy card owners. More recently, criminals have turned their sites on the more vulnerable populations relying on government assistance for basic food items. EBT and SNAP benefit cards are being skimmed and funds withdrawn from the lowest economic class of citizen. Skim Scan is shown in this video and has been publicly endorsed by many police departments including Sanford, Williamson, Bedford, Chadbourn, Bradenton and Hennepin as well as U.S. Secret Service.

Debit card compromises nearly doubled in 2023

According to FICO, Debit card skimming grew 96% year over year in 2023. Skim Swipe can save countless hours of searching through retail POS terminals for tiny, hidden skimmers. 7-Eleven, Casey’s General Stores, Wawa, KwikTrip and many more convenience chains, retail stores and travel centers have been plagued with card skimmers both inside and outside the stores. Skim Swipe can save countless hours of opening and searching through POS retail terminals. Skim Swipe was developed by the same engineers that created Skim Scan and BlueSleuth Bluetooth skimmer locator already in use by dozens of local, state and federal skimmer task forces.

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What do I do if I am experiencing false positives?

Skim Scan operates using a 3V coin cell battery. If the battery’s charge drops too low, unit performance may become unpredictable. We recommend to always have a replacement battery (Energizer CR2032 3V battery) handy.

Does Skim Scan require any hardware modifications to any ATM, gas pump or retail POS terminal in order to detect a skimmer?

No. Skim Scan does not require modifications to any hardware in order to use it effectively.

What is a deep insert skimmer compared to overlay skimmer?

Deep insert skimmers are actually inserted through the thin slot in the card reader making them impossible to visually detect without opening up the machine completely and performing a full inspection. Overlay skimmers are attached to the outside of the machine and usually cover the existing card reader. Some look very convincing so they are not as easy to detect but unlike deep insert skimmers, all overlays can be pulled off the machine to reveal the real card reader underneath.

What is the suggested operating temperature for the Skim Scan?

Skim Scan recommended operating and storage temperature is between 15 to 35°C (59°F to 95°F) for normal operation. If you leave your scanner in a vehicle overnight in the cold for instance, it is recommended to let the unit warm up to normal operating temperature before using it.

Can I replace the battery in my Skim Scan myself?

Absolutely. You can remove the screws with the supplied #1 screw driver and carefully replace the Energizer CR2032 3V battery with a fresh battery. We recommend Energizer® brand which can be found in any retail or online store.

How often should I change the battery in my Skim Scan?

The answer to this question varies greatly upon usage. If the unit is used daily then you will likely need to change the battery once a month. If the unit is typically used once a week, then the battery should last over 6 months before requiring replacement. 

Does Skim Scan work in all card readers?

Skim Scan works in any card reader that requires a ‘dip’ or insertion of card to read. That includes most ATMs, gas pumps and point-of-sale retail terminals. However, Skim Scan cannot be swiped quickly through a slotted reader and does not work in card swipers found on some kiosks or retail POS terminals.

Does Skim Scan work on some ATMs that include a solenoid or locking mechanism that will not accept all cards?

Skim Scan contains a unique identifier that “fools” any ATM into accepting it as if it sees a bank’s debit or credit card. So long as an ATM requires the card to be inserted or dipped into the magnetic reader while reading the card, Skim Scan should work on most readers.

Does Skim Scan work in the EMV card chip slot located in the front of POS retail terminals?

No. The chip slot does not use a magnetic head to read the chip so magnetic head skimmers do not reside there. Retail POS terminals with card swipers on the side can contain skimmers on either side of the slot. Use Skim Swipeto detect such skimmers.

Why does my Skim Scan have a small piece of tape on the underside of the unit?

That tape is charged with a magnetic code allowing Skim Scan to bypass most ATMs card readers containing a solenoid to block non-debit cards. Do not remove this tape.