These are magnetic stripe reader/writers that can "re-encode" data onto a blank card's magnetic strip. While they have legitimate uses (e.g., creating employee ID badges), using them to place stolen financial data onto a different card with intent to defraud is illegal.

Financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and Secret Service , actively track the sale and use of these devices. Security Countermeasures

These small, illegal devices are attached to ATMs, gas pumps, or POS terminals to secretly read and capture a card's magnetic stripe data during a legitimate transaction.

Modern payment technology has made traditional cloning significantly more difficult: Skimming - FBI

A more advanced, thinner version of a skimmer designed to fit inside a card slot to capture data from a card's EMV microchip. Legal Status and Penalties

The law regarding these devices focuses on and unauthorized access .

In practice, "cloning" is a multi-step process involving different types of hardware:

In Australia, using a device to deal with identification information without consent can lead to up to 7 years in prison. In Canada, theft or misuse of credit card data carries similar penalties of up to 7 years, while large-scale fraud can lead to 14 years.