WALMART shoppers are being warned to check their bank accounts after a brazen thief allegedly pulled a sneaky trick at self-checkout.
He was caught installing an info-stealing device at cash registers in an effort to rob customers of their hard-earned cash, cops say.
According to police, a man and a juvenile partner employed a T-shirt as a disguise when they installed a skimmer on registers at various Walmart locations in Central Pennsylvania.
The suspects targeted a store in Lower Allen Township in Cumberland County on February 5, according to local Fox affiliate WPMT.
Staff at the store spotted the device and alerted authorities, who were already investigating similar cases in the area.
The alleged mastermind, Marcus Covaci, 20, was caught after police linked a suspect vehicle to his name, court records showed.
Covaci and the juvenile had already been arrested at another Walmart in Adams County, where they installed a second skimmer, according to cops.
Police reported that surveillance footage from the Walmart in Lower Allen Township captured Covaci using a T-shirt to obstruct the camera at the register while the juvenile was installing the skimmer.
After the device was in place, both suspects left the store separately to avoid suspicion.
Gettysburg Police alerted other Walmart locations after nabbing the duo at the Adams County store, according to officials.
Covaci now faces felony charges in two counties, including unlawful use of a computer, theft by deception, and access device fraud.
In Cumberland County, he is charged with criminal conspiracy and placing encoded information from one device to another.
Adams County authorities hit him with additional charges, including possession of a skimming device and corruption of minors.
He is being held at Adams County Prison after failing to post bail.
The juvenile suspect was also charged but was processed as a minor, police confirmed.
Both suspects are set to appear in court later this month.
Covaci’s preliminary hearing in Adams County is scheduled for March 19, while a separate arraignment is set for Cumberland County the same day.
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.
Cops are urging Walmart customers to monitor their bank statements for any suspicious transactions.
Skimming devices can steal credit and debit card information without victims realizing it.
Shoppers are advised to inspect card readers for loose parts or unusual attachments before swiping.
Police say skimmers are often used in self-checkout lanes, gas stations, and ATMs.
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of skimming should report it to their bank and local authorities immediately.
Adam County Police Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
