Some embodiments include a smart card reader system that includes a card reader cavity that is impervious to liquid. The card reader cavity includes a secure card reader (SCR) holder bonded to a printed circuit board (PCB), to provide a liquid barrier between the SCR holder and the PCB. The PCB includes an SCR spring contact connector. The card reader cavity can receive a smart card including an integrated circuit (IC), where the IC is coupled to the SCR spring contact connector. A processor coupled to the SCR spring contact connector, can receive an input regarding a transaction using data of the smart card, and execute the transaction. In some embodiments a roller system seals the card reader cavity when the smart card reader system is not in use.

A memory card reader unit, which has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The unit includes a memory card insertion face having an insertion recess and an insertion slot for a memory card, which has a lower lip and an upper lip. The lower lip extends longitudinally and parallel to an insertion plane of a memory card in the reader unit, forming an extended insertion lip extending beyond an insertion plane.

A card reader includes a movable upper surface platform with a lower surface platform including one or more sensors. When there is no card transaction in progress, the upper surface platform moves toward the lower surface platform and locks in place making contact with the lower surface platform. The one or more sensor indicate whether the two surfaces are in contact with one another. When the two surfaces are not in contact with one another, when the card reader is in an idle state, the card reader shuts down/disables since there is foreign object is present in the card reader's transport path, which may indicate a skimmer/shimmer was placed in the card reader.