Watch criminals install a credit card skimmer
Your credit card number could be stored along with thousands of others on a small strip of cable that can be installed in seconds.
Rebekah L. Sanders, The Republic | azcentral.com
CHILLICOTHE – Have you used your EBT card recently at Save-a-Lot on Western Avenue and the Corner Market on Charleston Pike in Chillicothe? If so, you may be at risk of having your money stolen because card readers were recently discovered in the stores.
These skimmers are found on card readers and look just like the ones the store uses. The devices can then record the card number and PIN of cards swiped, inserted and tapped. This data is then stored to be retrieved later via Bluetooth. Detective Sgt. Brenton Davidson of the Ross County Sheriff’s Office said installing these devices can take as little as 10 seconds and you hardly notice them once they are on the original device because nothing changes on the store side.
“It’s easy to connect,” Davidson said. “They look just like the card reader in the store.”
However, he points out that the only difference between the readers that customers may notice is that the top is loose, as the skimmers they have found so far are only attached with double-sided tape.
These skimmers can be found throughout Southern Ohio, including Jackson County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Licking County, and Pike County. In Ross County, over 40 complaints have been filed with the Sheriff’s Office and Chillicothe Police Department, resulting in over $2,500 in theft.
These card skimmers and suspects are currently under multi-agency investigation as law enforcement attempts to identify who is stealing money from EBT cards.
“We are one of many counties in the state of Ohio that are currently affected,” Davidson said.
What to do if your money is stolen?
If you check your EBT account balance and find that money has been stolen, Davidson recommends reporting it to law enforcement with a formal complaint. This will help them keep track of victims and also provide an accurate amount if a prosecution occurs.
Ross County Job And Family Services is currently working to help those who have had their information and money stolen. Director Jody Walker said they have been receiving calls about this issue as soon as people noticed money being stolen. He recommends contacting the agency by calling 1-844-640-6446 as soon as you notice any suspicious activity.
Walker also recommends following statewide tips for changing your EBT card PIN (this can be done online), locking your card when it’s not in use and keeping an eye on your account balance (this can be done through the ConnectEBT app).
