[kwlug-disc] OT: Canada Computers credit card skimmer

[Doug Moen]

AIUI, the standard in store terminals for debit and credit purchases that you see communicate directly with the bank to validate transactions. For security reasons, they do not provide card numbers to the vendor, and in the case of tap, the terminal itself never sees the card number due to the cryptographical protocol used. "Skimming" usually refers to tampered payment card terminals that are modified to skim the card numbers.

The usual advice that I've read states that these hardware skimmers are most often found at gas stations and third party ATMs. (I use official ATMs inside of banks, which I think are safe.)

On Tue, Jan 27, 2026, at 4:10 PM, CrankyOldBugger wrote:
> I should have clarified better before I hit "send" earlier..  
> 
> IIRC, Canada Computer does use PCs as POS systems.  They have attached barcode scanners that they use to record your serial numbers on stuff you buy.  And of course, they use the Interac debit/credit terminals to read your cards.  CC isn't as neolithic as I may have suggested in my earlier email.
> 
> I think the issue that we're wondering about here is "does CC use the same web based interface for in-store purchases, and thus is inadvertently skimming your credit card number?"  To that, I don't have an authoritative answer.  I am under the impression that the web interface and the in-store terminals are separate, but again, I don't really know.  It is a good question that needs further study.
> 
> What is the flowchart for both methods of shopping and authorizing your credit card, and where do they meet, if at all?  Does the local store in Waterloo send your credit card information straight to the banks, or does it pass through the same system as the web store, and thus (possibly) running past the same web credit card skimmer?
> 
> Bottom line, I think, is to watch your bank statements closely.  Thankfully Wifeski got me to update our personal finance software weekly now, so I don't run the risk of missing any weird transactions.
> 
> And bottom-bottom line..  who knows how much the big A.I. data thieves are already stealing from us?  There's no escape.
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, 27 Jan 2026 at 15:59, Remi Gauvin <remi at georgianit.com> wrote:
>> On 2026-01-27 10:23 a.m., Doug Moen wrote:
>> >> What kind of modern franchise store uses cash registers?
>> > I always pay cash at Canada Computers (as well as at every other franchise store). This would not be possible if they did not have cash registers.
>> 
>> 
>> Maybe because I'm an old ludite, but in my mind, a crash drawer attached
>> to a full fledged Point of Sale system is very different from what I
>> think of "regular cash registers.".  The exception being Walmart, their
>> POS is very cleverly disguised to look like cash register.
>> 
>> But I think the real distinction relevant here, is the Point of Sale
>> system tied to the payment system. You'll notice in some small stores,
>> for example, after they ring in your puchase, they have to manually
>> input the amount into the Debit/Credit machine, which are not connected
>> to whatever PoS or Register being used.  This is not the case with
>> Canada Computers.
>> 
>> 
>> 
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