This is one of the most common frauds when using a credit or debit card.

A fear of cardholders is cloning, and they are right to be worried, this is one of the most common frauds when using credit or debit cards.

Due to the pandemic many habits changed, one of the changes in personal finances was the increase in electronic transactions. Unfortunately, this also meant an increase in the number of frauds, which grew up to 25%.

In 2020 there were more than 24 million claims for possible fraud, electronic banking transactions and identity theft, according to the institution. The best way to avoid them and put your finances at risk is to know how fraudulent operators operate, in this article we explain what you should do if your card is cloned.

They cloned my card and bought on the Internet.

Does this phrase sound familiar? It is probably more frequent than you think and unfortunately, you are not the only person who faces this situation. First of all, let’s start by explaining what card cloning is.

Cloning or also known as skimming refers to copying the data contained in the magnetic stripe of a debit or credit card, this is achieved by using a small scanning device called a skimmer, through which the card slides and the information on it is duplicated, this includes:

• Card number
• Expiration date
• Cardholder’s name
• Security number

With this information, the fraudsters make purchases mainly on the Internet, but also in establishments in your name. So if you found purchases made on the Internet that you do not know, it is possible that you have been a victim of cloning. Let’s see what you should do.

What happens if my card has been cloned?

If you notice strange movements in your credit or debit card statements, it is important to take action as soon as possible. If you are wondering what to do if your card is cloned, we recommend these steps you should take:

Contact your bank

Immediately and using the emergency line of your institution, inform the bank of the situation, request the cancellation of your card to prevent further charges in your name.

File a report of unrecognized charges

Once you have canceled your card and no one else can use it, file a complaint and start the process to report the charges that are not recognized. You can do this in the same cancellation call.

Some information that may be requested to make the report are:

• Date, time and place where you last used your card.
• Balance on your account.
• Charges that you do not recognize must specify: date, time, amount and concept of the charge.
• Some banks may ask you for other documentation that you must send by e-mail.

Make sure you have all the information on hand so that your bank can confirm that you are the cardholder.

Once the information is gathered, the bank will start the investigation and give you a resolution in approximately 45 calendar days.

How do I know if my card has been cloned?

The most reliable way to make sure everything is going well with your card or to identify if there is any strange behavior is to constantly review your account statement. By doing so you can quickly perceive if there are charges that you did not make and therefore determine if it is some kind of fraud, including cloning.

Unfortunately, some people are not in the habit of checking their account statement and only find out about these problems when they run out of funds or when the charges are very noticeable. Another way to perceive this is through the alerts that your bank sends you, it is possible that you receive an alert of a purchase that you did not make and thus you discover that they are using your data.

Before finishing, remember that cloning is a form of fraud in which they duplicate your card’s banking data through a device known as a skimmer and make purchases with them.

One of the ways in which you can protect yourself is to never lose sight of your card when paying with it. Check the slot where the card is inserted into the ATM and also where the money comes out to confirm that it does not have a suspicious object, you should also check the keypad and check that it is not overlapping. Also always check the terminals where you are going to pay in a restaurant, store or any other establishment.