Supermarket giant, Walmart is now warning its customers to thoroughly check through their recent bank statements after a card skimming scam was discovered to be on the rise. A paper thin device was found at one of the retailer’s locations by the self check out counter.
Card skimming devices found at several Walmart locations
Retailers in West Gastonia, North Carolina were the first to discover these paper-thin devices of thievery. According to Gastonia police, these devices were being used at Walmart stores to steal the credit card information of customers and pass it to scammers in real time as they checked out. Whilst shoppers were urged to remain vigilant, the Gastonia police refused to reveal the names of any other stores that also had the devices.
By using card skimmers, scammers are able to access card numbers and PINs from individuals which they then use to empty out said individuals’ bank accounts. Even chip-enabled cards are not guaranteed to be safe from these attacks, according to Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate.
“Scammers trick the system into asking for a swipe instead of reading the chip,” Rossman stated.
He further explained that these scammers place a fake terminal over the store’s payment terminal. Because of the paper thin nature of the skimming device, it becomes almost imperceptible to notice any difference.
“It looks real. The machine then tells you to swipe because it doesn’t recognize the chip,” he said. Once the shopper swipes their card, their information is immediately stolen and sent to the thieves.
Skimmers can be found at any checkout counter that makes use of digital payments, with some locations being bigger targets than others. “Skimmers are more common at self checkouts or gas stations,” Rossman explained. “It’s harder to put one of these in under the cashier’s nose.”
Places like crowded self checkout counters or dimly lit gas station checkouts are usually the go-to spots for scammers to place these devices as they can often go unnoticed due to the poor lighting or overcrowding. The simplest way to spot a skimming device is if something feels out of the ordinary when the reader processes your transaction.
“The biggest tip-off is if something doesn’t fit right,” Rossman claimed. Unfortunately, no customer goes into a store with the possibility of card skimming on their minds as they rush to get their grocery shopping done and as such, most individuals only notice the issue once its too late.
Banking experts have shared that it is extremely important to monitor your bank accounts regularly to ensure no fraudulent transactions have occurred. Additionally, according to Rossman, shoppers should try and opt for credit card payments over debit card ones because credit cards generally offer better fraud protection.
Safety tips from the police
A consumer warning has been issued by Gastonia police detectives after Bluetooth skimming devices were found at multiple stores local stores. Amongst these stores was a self check out in a North Gastonia Walmart. The issue had been reported widely across the Charlotte area and as such, local police have put out warnings for customers. These devices make use of real time theft whereby card details and PINs are sent directly to the scammers.
Detectives subsequently shared a Facebook post containing tips to keep in mind when shopping to prevent being scammed. According to police suggestions, customers should be “looking for signs of tampering on card readers. If the keypad seems thicker than normal or feels flimsy, it could be a red flag.”
Customers are also urged to use their credit cards rather than debit cards as the credit card requires a pin for the transaction to be processed, unlike debit cards. Additionally, it is far safer to make a payment in the presence of a cashier, or alternatively, by using the “tap to pay” option.