BANK customers are being warned about stolen card numbers after a thief was caught on camera installing an info-stealing device.
Police say numerous card numbers were stolen last weekend after a credit union was targeted with a skimming device.
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Surveillance footage captured the moment the suspect installed the device in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, at the American Heritage Credit Union.
In a humorous Facebook post on Saturday, Bristol Police shared stills from the video.
“Feeling cute, might be identified for installing a card skimmer later!” they wrote alongside photos of the suspected thief.
“Here is a better view of the gentleman from our request to ID a few days back! If you recognize this man, please contact us!”
The suspect appeared to have dark hair and dark eyes and was wearing either a brown or yellow hoodie, according to the footage.
He wore a mask in the clip that covered only his mouth.
SPOTTING A SKIMMER
Skimmers can steal debit or credit account information if a person swipes their card’s magnetic strip through the device.
Thieves will place skimmers over card readers at self-checkout kiosks, ATMs, and gas station pumps to gain access to a victim’s bank information.
Once they have a card number, they use the account info to make fraudulent transactions on customers’ accounts and often go on wild spending sprees.
This can leave a victim’s account in the red and see them hit with overdraft fees.
Shoppers should be vigilant when using credit or debit cards and look out for hidden cameras while completing a payment, cybersecurity expert Paul Bischoff told Reader’s Digest.
Some scammers will use tiny cameras near card readers to record someone entering their PIN into the machines.
To determine if a card reader is legitimate or not, it’s always best to do a thorough inspection.
A card skimmer often has wider borders because the device needs to fit over the actual credit card reader.
What is a skimmer device?
A skimmer device is a fraud tool designed to steal sensitive information from credit or debit cards during transactions.
- Imagine a skimmer device as a sneaky thief that hides on ATMs or card machines.
- Its job is to secretly steal your credit or debit card information when you use it for a transaction.
- These devices are like tiny spies that can copy your card details, including the card number and PIN, without you even realizing it.
- Skimmers can be cleverly disguised to look just like the regular card reader, making them hard to spot.
- Once they have your information, bad guys can use it to make fake cards or buy things without your permission, causing a lot of trouble and stress.
- It’s important to always be cautious and check for anything unusual on card machines before using them to protect yourself from these sneaky devices.
If you notice that the backlight for the keys is either not visible or faint, don’t swipe your card.
Authorities also suggest wiggling a card reader to see if it’s secure.
If the device feels loose or detachable, it’s likely been tampered with.
A skimmer will also have thick keys that feel sticky or spongey when pressed.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the Bristol Township Police Department for comment.
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