A SINISTER device that steals card information has been found at a Piggly Wiggly – and it was nearly invisible to the naked eye.
The skimmer went unnoticed for days before a store worker raised the alarm about the bank-draining gadget.
The discovery came on March 11 after someone alerted staff to the suspicious equipment at a store in Talladega, Alabama.
The device was so similar to the actual checkout keypad that it was nearly invisible, cops said.
Lieutenant Dennis McDaniel from the Talladega Police informed The Anniston Star that the fraudulent device was an exact replica of the original POS terminal and was simply placed on top of it.
“The device was removed and taken to the Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Forensics for examination.”
The skimmer had likely been in place for two days before being found, McDaniel added.
Police said they’re not sure if anyone’s debit and credit card information was compromised.
It is unclear who installed the info-stealing device at the store.
Talladega Police didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
Skimmers are advanced devices designed to steal card details every time a card is swiped. They are skillfully placed over legitimate payment terminals, blending in seamlessly and tricking customers into thinking they are part of the regular checkout process.
When a shopper taps or inserts their card to pay for an item, the device can gather sensitive information and send it to thieves.
The scammers will then use the debit or credit card info to make fraudulent purchases on a victim’s account.
Discovering that you have fallen victim to a skimming scam can take a considerable amount of time, sometimes even stretching to weeks or months. It is crucial to monitor your bank statements regularly to detect any unauthorized transactions promptly.
RISE IN EBT CARD THEFT
Skimmers can pop up anywhere credit and debit payments are accepted, but some spots are bigger targets.
A dimly lit gas station or a busy self-checkout are prime locations, making it simple for scammers to slip them on.
One way to spot a skimmer is to check if something feels off with the card reader.
Since at least 2021, EBT card data has been a prime target for criminal groups using card skimming and other tactics.
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.
EBT and other public-benefit cards are major targets because they are mostly not equipped with chip technology.
These may be present in any market, convenience store, or retailer.
According to the FBI, point-of-sale skimming devices, such as those capturing EBT card data, are generally designed as overlays to the POS terminal and have wireless transmission capabilities.
The FBI recommends consumers pull on the end of a credit or debit keypad before using it.
In just one year, over $115 million was stolen from innocent shoppers who had their card information stolen when using compromised payment terminals.
Customers have previously been warned by authorities about the rising risk of this type of crime.
