RESIDENTS in a major US city are being warned of a widespread credit card stealing scheme as another device that can swipe all of your information has been found.
Washington D.C. police revealed on Thursday that they found a credit card skimming device at a 7-Eleven location.
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Card skimmers are devices that can be installed on self-checkout machines, ATMs, gas station pumps, and other card-reading devices.
They often look identical to the keypads or card inserts presented at a typical machine.
However, these devices copy the cardholder’s PIN and card numbers as soon as the card is inserted, leaving victims helpless as the scammers get easy access to their bank information.
The device was found at around 7 p.m. at 3433 Connecticut Avenue NW, according to CBS affiliate WUSA.
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Police have reportedly said that the suspects behind the device are also responsible for other skimming gadgets found at Safeway grocery stores across Washington D.C.
Incidents with the device reportedly go back as far as March 25 at five different stores.
The Safeway locations impacted so far include:
- 1200 1st Street NE
- 400 M Street SE
- 1800 Wisconsin Avenue NW
- 4500 40th Street NW
- 1700 Corcoran Street NW
At least one of these devices was reportedly discovered on a self-checkout machine, a Safeway customer told WUSA.
“The keypad was very clearly new and that clued me in immediately,” shopper John Perry-Miller told the outlet.
“I told him, ‘You’ve got a skimmer.’ And he was very nice and said, ‘No, I don’t think it’s a skimmer.’
“And I said, ‘No! I think you have a skimmer.’
“I’m like pulling it and then we pull it off together and he’s shocked.”
The Metropolitan Police Department previously released images of the suspected scammers, showing two men in large coats and face masks.
Police have also revealed multiple ways shoppers can avoid falling victim to a credit card skimming scam.
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.
Specifically, individuals can check to see if the card reading device is able to be moved or budged when touched.
Additionally, officials recommend comparing the device to one nearby.
Individuals can also check the specific alignment of the card reader and look inside before inserting their card for anything suspicious.
If anyone suspects they have come across a card skimming device, police recommend reporting the incident right away.
The FBI has also released recommendations to avoid falling victim, including shielding PIN information from nearby cameras or other customers.
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