selling mag strip dumper? legal? Illegal?

[Shawn McCombs]

I was wondering what the laws for selling these are? I see a lot of
laws saying you can't use one, some states say you can not own them.
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/banking/credit-card-skimming-devices-laws-and-legislation.aspx

also if it was ok to sell them, and someone from a state that can not
own one bought one, then who's responsibility is that?

I was just wondering because I noticed a site selling encoders, with
the idea of encoding credit card info with them. I'm not sure if that
was the sells pitch but from other sites linking to it, it seemed that
way. They even had a youtube how to video... lol

I have no intention in stealing people information I was just
wondering.

[Shawn McCombs]

WOW.. check out this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Mini-400-DX4-Magnetic-Stripe-Card-Reader-Magstripe-Credit-Debit-MiniDX4-/250927867551?pt=BI_Credit_Card_Terminals&hash=item3a6c77669f#ht_3982wt_1037

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MiniDX3-Portable-Magnetic-Card-Reader-Data-Collector-MiniDX4-MiniDX4B-20-Cards-/140669907252?pt=BI_Credit_Card_Terminals&hash=item20c0947134#ht_3869wt_1037

They sell them on ebay?

[Aaron Dubin]

I'm no legal expert, but just taking a guess, you could probably use lockpicks as a good analog that may be better defined. If my memory serves, in some states, it's flat out illegal to own a set of picks unless you are a certified locksmith. In other states, and I believe MI is one of them, owning them is not in and of itself a crime, but possessing them while committing a crime is a crime. In a lot of cases, a clear demonstration that you are a researcher and engaged in legitimate research, such as you are a computer security professional investigating the security of mag stripe systems, that may get you some leeway on the law, but as always, do your own research. I take no responsibility if you get yourself in trouble buying something you shouldn't!

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[Nathaniel Bezanson]

On Apr 3, 3:18 am, Shawn McCombs <0theifda...@gmail.com> wrote:
> They sell them on ebay?

Uhm,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Square-Credit-Card-Reader-black-/230770055372
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intuit-GoPayment-Credit-Card-Reader-iPhone-Android-CC-Swiper-BRAND-NEW-/230771731200

A reader is not a skimmer.

A skimmer is purpose-built to disguise its presence over the face of
an ATM, and read the card as it passes through. It's hard to imagine a
non-nefarious use for it.

A reader, or a writer, is just a general-purpose tool. There are tons
of uses -- libraries and laundromats and gaming centers and all sorts
of places have writers, and there's a substantial bin of readers at
the space already, including some of the above-linked style. There's
absolutely nothing wrong with owning a reader or writer, just don't
use it to commit fraud, and you're fine.

[Joseph C. Bender]

On 4/3/2012 03:18, Shawn McCombs wrote:
> WOW.. check out this:
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-Mini-400-DX4-Magnetic-Stripe-Card-Reader-Magstripe-Credit-Debit-MiniDX4-/250927867551?pt=BI_Credit_Card_Terminals&hash=item3a6c77669f#ht_3982wt_1037
>

WOW indeed, they're charging $6.00 too much for that. Square sends you
one for free if you sign up for an account, and doesn't charge you
anything other than transaction fees when you use it.

> http://www.ebay.com/itm/MiniDX3-Portable-Magnetic-Card-Reader-Data-Collector-MiniDX4-MiniDX4B-20-Cards-/140669907252?pt=BI_Credit_Card_Terminals&hash=item20c0947134#ht_3869wt_1037
>
> They sell them on ebay?
>

And hamfests, and flea markets, and surplus electronics dealers, and
Craigslist...

It's a credit card reader. Perfectly legal to own as long as you're not
committing fraud with it.

--
Joseph C. Bender
jcbender at bendorius dot com