A card reader which can prevent illegal acquisition of magnetic information recorded in a magnetic stripe based on the output signal of a pre-head. Specifically, the card reader (101) comprises: a card insertion slot (103) which guides a magnetic card having a magnetic stripe to a transportation path (102); and a pre-head (104) which is disposed near the card insertion slot (103) and detects whether there is a magnetic stripe. The pre-head (104) is provided with a head part (141) which comprises: at least a pair of magnetic cores which are arranged facing each other so as to sandwich a magnetic gap; and a coil which is wrapped around the pair of magnetic cores. A signal different from the magnetic information recorded in the magnetic stripe is outputted from the pre-head (104).
