📄 Quick reading 🥛 Removing surface layer 💳 Stealing card data 💸 Hiding income 🪶 Light contact

skimming

1 8.6

Copy card details illegally from a card reader to steal money

noun
/ˈskɪmɪŋ/

NSFW

: clonación de tarjetas

Authorities warn that skimming has become increasingly common, making it essential for users to cover their PINs while withdrawing cash.
skimming devices

Examples

You are right that SS is a massive till-skimming operation.

Blog text (24)
Cute because of their futile attempt at copying X's skimming, which is just so much like what M$ would do: give it your own spin (so no one can accuse you of stealing right away) whilst completely missing the point.

Blog text (24)
To protect yourself from skimming, always check the ATM for any suspicious devices before inserting your card.
Many consumers have fallen victim to skimming after using unmonitored ATM machines at remote locations.

Compounds

cream-skimming

Jargon

1 8.8

Choosing only the best or most valuable customers and leaving the rest

How Serious

identity theft

29 3.5

carding

NSFW

1 9.0

skimming

NSFW

1 8.6

Surface Forms

skimming singular

skimmings plural

Morphology

skimming = skim (semi-transparent) = skim + ing

Derived from the verb sense of taking or copying data covertly ('skimming' from the top); the technical/criminal application may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Skimming comes from an old idea of taking a little from the top. A helpful way to remember the card meaning is to picture a hidden device that quietly copies card details as the card passes, like stealing a small amount from many people.