SKIMMER DEVICE DETECTION
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- monitoring signals from a plurality of sensors located within a card reader;
comparing the monitored sensor signals and times of receipt of the monitored signals with an expected pattern of signals stored in a memory including expected signals and expected times of receipt, the expected pattern of signals stored in a data structure in the memory, the stored pattern of signals instructing a controller of the card reader of a pattern for transporting the card within the card reader through manipulation of a card transport mechanism; and
declaring an alert when the monitored sensor signals do not match the expected pattern of signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, data structures, and software for skimmer device detection within self-service terminals, and more particular with regard to card reading devices. One such embodiment is a method that includes monitoring a card position within a card reader device based on signals received from a plurality of card position sensors of the card reader device in view of an expected card travel pattern data structure to identify card reader tampering. This method further includes declaring a card reader device tampering event when at least one signal received from at least one of the card position sensors does not match data of the expected card travel pattern data structure. The method then executes at least one card reader device tampering event process upon a declared card reader tampering event.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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monitoring signals from a plurality of sensors located within a card reader; comparing the monitored sensor signals and times of receipt of the monitored signals with an expected pattern of signals stored in a memory including expected signals and expected times of receipt, the expected pattern of signals stored in a data structure in the memory, the stored pattern of signals instructing a controller of the card reader of a pattern for transporting the card within the card reader through manipulation of a card transport mechanism; and declaring an alert when the monitored sensor signals do not match the expected pattern of signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a card reader device, the method comprising:
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transporting a card within a card reader according to a card travel pattern stored in a memory including card positions and corresponding times; monitoring signals from a plurality of sensors located within the card reader; comparing monitored sensor signals and times of receipt of the monitored signals with an expected pattern of signals corresponding to the card travel pattern, the expected pattern of signals stored in a data structure in the memory, the stored pattern of signals instructing a controller of the card reader of a pattern for transporting the card within the card reader through manipulation of a card transport mechanism; and declaring an alert when the monitored sensor signals do not match the expected pattern of signals corresponding to the card travel pattern. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A card reader device comprising:
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a card entrance for receiving a card; a card enclosure in registration with the card entrance and defining an area in which the card is read and including a plurality of position sensors for detecting a position of the card within the card enclosure; a shutter located between the card entrance and the card enclosure, and including a shutter sensor indicating whether the shutter is open or closed; a transport mechanism for transporting a card between the card entrance and the card enclosure; and a controller including a processor and a memory that is operable to control the card reader device through performance of a plurality of data processing activities comprising; controlling the transport mechanism; monitoring signals from the shutter sensor and the plurality of position sensors; comparing the monitored sensor signals and times of receipt of the monitored signals with an expected pattern of signals stored in the memory including expected signals and expected times of receipt, the expected pattern of signals stored in a data structure in the memory, the stored pattern of signals instructing a controller of the card reader device of a pattern for transporting the card within the card reader device through manipulation of the transport mechanism; and declaring an alert when the monitored sensor signals do not match the expected pattern of signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification