Shadowing Practice: 14 skimming devices found at Houston-area businesses - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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We begin tonight with a Secret Service investigation
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We begin tonight with a Secret Service investigation
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that uncovered more than a dozen illegal card skimming devices that were hidden at businesses across Harris County.
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Fox 26's Leslie Delispoor is live tonight explaining how the operation worked and what you need to know before swiping your card.
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Leslie.
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Yeah, that's right, Tom.
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So investigators say these skimmers were hidden on everything from ATMs to gas pumps
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and even checkout terminals to literally drain your bank account.
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Now, federal agents say this latest sweep uncovered 14 illegal skimmers and may have prevented more than $14 million in fraud losses.
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The two-day operation was led by the U.S.
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Secret Service Houston field office alongside local and federal partners.
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Agents inspected more than 3,000 payment terminals at 372 businesses across Harris County.
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Investigators say the skimming devices were secretly attached to card readers and used to grab customers' debit and credit card information.
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Officials say criminals often target gas stations,
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ATMs, and stores with high volumes of EBT transactions
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because many of those cards still rely on magnetic strips instead of more secure chip technology.
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Investigators also handed out educational materials to business owners,
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teaching employees what to look for and how to spot tampered card readers before customers become victims.
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Now, we spoke with a tech expert who shared how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim.
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It looks like it's the regular card reader, but it's not.
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It's superimposed on top of the ATM,
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and that's when they have two pieces of information.
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Number one, your pin when you're typing it
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and number two your card information the magnetic band has your pretty much your card information
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and with those two pieces they can clone your card
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and start using it
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so yes it is very it is very prevalent it has been for for years
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and usually the ATMs that are at risk are those who are kind of left alone in a sketchy area.
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I know it's convenient to go to the convenience store and get an ATM.
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Try not to use it and if you have to use it,
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use your phone instead.
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Use your tap to phone.
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Tapping technology creates a token that is unique per transaction your card reader or your card information is not cloned.
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What I would recommend is most of the time we can have now our cards stored on our phone or smart devices.
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Try to tap instead, especially on gas stations.
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Another thing that I would recommend is don't have your wallet in your back pocket.
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That's an important thing because there are technologies
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out there where people can actually use specific devices where they might be a feet away,
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two feet away in a convenience store,
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they might be reading your cards.
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So if something looks weird, just walk away.
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Easy.
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With that, you probably will avoid the majority of the circumstances.
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Now, officials say the timing of this operation was important with the World Cup right around the corner.
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Reporting in Southwest Houston, Leslie Dallas for Fox 26 News.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will practice understanding and using language related to financial security, specifically focusing on the dangers of card skimming devices found in businesses. The key themes revolve around safety precautions when using ATMs and gas pumps, as well as the importance of recognizing fraudulent activities. By engaging with this topic, learners will enhance their ability to speak about security issues while improving their overall English fluency.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Skimming devices: Unauthorized equipment used to collect card information.
  • Card reader: A device that reads the information from a debit or credit card.
  • Swipe: To move a card through a reader to make a payment.
  • Magnetic strip: A black stripe on the back of a card that stores data.
  • Fraud losses: Financial losses due to illegal activities by criminals.
  • Clone: To create an identical copy, often used in the context of card information.
  • Tap to pay: A contactless payment method that utilizes near-field communication technology.
  • Educational materials: Resources provided to inform and teach about a specific topic.

Practice Tips

To make the most of your learning experience, consider using a shadowing site or a shadowing app that allows you to practice alongside videos. When watching this particular news segment, focus on the rhythm and delivery of the speaker, who presents information clearly and at a moderate pace. Here are some specific tips:

  • Replay segments of the video multiple times, mimicking the speaker’s pronunciation and intonation. This technique is known as shadow speech and is effective for developing a natural speaking style.
  • Try to summarize what you hear after each segment. This will help reinforce your understanding of the vocabulary used, while letting you practice articulating these ideas in your own words.
  • Pay attention to phrases that indicate caution, such as “if something looks weird, just walk away.” Practicing these phrases can help prepare you for similar conversations in real life.
  • Use this video for IELTS speaking practice. Formulate answers to potential questions about fraud prevention and safety measures based on the content discussed.
  • Finally, discuss your learning with others—whether in person or through online forums. Engaging others can help you enhance your language skills while applying what you've learned from the video.

By immersing yourself in the content and incorporating these practices, you will effectively learn English with YouTube while gaining valuable insights into financial safety. Happy learning!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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