According to the Secret Service, skimming devices designed to steal credit and debit card information from unsuspecting shoppers are on the rise across the country, and Middle Tennessee appears to be no exception.
In recent months, law enforcement agencies across the region have issued similar statements urging locals to be vigilant.
In Franklin, police are searching for two men suspected of installing card readers at several Kroger grocery stores across the city, the police department said Saturday. The devices were found at self-checkout lanes at stores on Mallory Lane, Murfreesboro and Hillsboro roads.
In Hendersonville, police discovered a skimming device at a gas station on New Shackle Island Road in May. Investigators determined the device had stolen nine different card numbers before removing it.
Here’s what you should know about these skimming devices.
What is a card skimmer?
A card skimmer is a device that is installed on card readers in stores or ATMs and can capture data from the magnetic stripe and chip of a credit or debit card.
In ATMs, the device is typically inserted into the card slot, where it is difficult to detect from the outside, the Secret Service said.
The devices, available in grocery and convenience stores, usually sit above the actual card reader and are equipped with keypads so that the skimmer can capture the debit card PIN numbers.
Franklin Police Detective Dan Ogilvie said these devices are often wireless and can transmit card information instantly, so the suspect does not have to return to retrieve the data.
In light of the credit card readers discovered in several area grocery stores last weekend, many of you have been asking for tips on how to avoid becoming a victim and what to look out for. The Franklin Police Department Public Information Office and Detective Dan… pic.twitter.com/gRSwvUncff
— Franklin Police Department (@FranklinTNPD) 6 August 2024
What to look for in a card skimmer
Ogilvie said you should touch the reader before inserting a card into a device.
“Make sure nothing is wobbling,” he said. “Look for strange gaps. When they put that fake keyboard on top of the real one, there’s often a noticeable gap either on the sides or where the actual card is.”
The Secret Service recommends looking for non-functioning or broken lights, raised keypads with loose edges, or stickers in unusual places at ATMs.
What to do if you suspect you are a victim of a skimmer?
If you suspect your card has been compromised, contact your bank immediately and request that the card be blocked and a new card issued with a new PIN number, the Secret Service recommends.
“Monitor the affected account closely,” the Secret Service said. “If you have suffered financial loss as a result of a skimming incident, consider filing a fraud affidavit with the card issuer and contacting your local law enforcement agency to report the incident.”
Ogilvie said contactless payments are likely to be the safest method for transactions. Tap-to-pay technology or apps such as Google and Apple Pay are also viable options, he said.
This article originally appeared in the Nashville Tennessean: What you should know about card skimmers in Middle Tennessee, USA
