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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 skimmer was an exact match to the store’s original POS terminal, making it nearly invisible to customers, according to Lt. Dennis McDaniel of the Talladega Police.
The device was removed from the machine and sent to Jacksonville State University’s Center for Applied Forensics for further analysis.
The skimmer had likely been in place for two days before being found, McDaniel told The Anniston Star.
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.
The skimmer, a sophisticated gadget that captures card information with every swipe, blended in seamlessly with the legitimate machine.
These devices are placed over the actual keypad, making it look like they’re part of the checkout kiosk.
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.
It can sometimes be weeks or months before victims realize they’ve been targeted, so it’s important to regularly check your bank account for any unexplained charges.
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.
