SAVE-A-LOT customers have been told to double-check their bank accounts for any recent inconsistencies.
Consumers who visited a Save-A-Lot during this specific week should be cautious of their personal accounts.
If you’re a New Jersey resident who visited a Save-A-Lot store from March 2 to March 6, it’s important to contact your credit card company promptly. According to WTXF-TV, a Fox affiliate in Pennsylvania, customers have experienced unauthorized charges after shopping at the store.
The Pennsauken Police said consumers who shopped at grocery store on Federal Street should verify any suspicious charges to their credit cards.
The police found a skimming device on the store’s keypad on March 2 in the afternoon and it was removed on March 6th.
These devices are made to look like they’re part of an ATM or checkout keypad.
When a consumer taps or inserts their card to pay for an item, the device is able to gather sensitive information.
Skimmer devices have been found at several grocery and retail stores, making consumers wary of shopping in-person or at specific retailers.
Police advised anyone who shopped at the Save-A-Lot in New Jersey during that week to call their banks to secure their accounts.
New Jersey residents were shocked to hear about the info-stealing devices.
“That is very crazy. I had no idea. No idea. That’s very scary,” Lidia Gonzalez told WTXF-TV.
“That makes me very nervous, even shopping online and all that kind of stuff. But yeah, it makes me very nervous.”
Another consumer said she did see a mysterious charge on her credit card that she disputed with her bank.
One shopper shared their experience, saying, “This week, I had a charge of $105 taken out of my card. I called Chase and inquired about the charge because I had already paid all my bills.”
Others wonder who could be behind the scamming devices.
This comes after Walmart shoppers were warned about the same devices being installed at registers in Virginia.
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.
The man behind the crime has been arrested and is facing 20 years behind bars.
Authorities believe scammers with the skimmer devices are part of a ring of crime.
Meaning they install these devices at retail stores in one location or city before moving onto another neighboring location quickly afterwards.
Officials say these devices have been found at grocery stores, big retailers, and even delis.
The FBI recommends consumers pull on the end on a credit or debit keypad before using it, as reported by WTXF-TV.
The Pennsauken Police currently do not have any additional details on the matter. Despite reaching out for comments, Save-A-Lot has not responded to requests from The U.S. Sun.
