Numerous retail establishments in the New England region have unearthed credit card skimming devices, prompting local authorities to issue warnings to customers regarding these fraudulent activities.

On a December evening, an employee at a Sudbury Farms supermarket in Sudbury, Massachusetts, stumbled upon a skimming device while attending to the self-checkout area. This device was cunningly designed to mimic legitimate credit card readers. Not long after, another skimmer was discovered in a different self-checkout lane.

The supermarket’s parent company initiated an investigation, uncovering similar skimmers at four other locations in Massachusetts. Prior to this, in November, the police in Concord, New Hampshire, had already alerted the public to skimming devices found at a Walmart and Market Basket supermarket.

Skimming scams involve the creation of counterfeit card readers that seamlessly blend with authentic machines, surreptitiously capturing the card information of unsuspecting victims during swipes. In some cases, hidden cameras and deceptive keypads are employed to pilfer PINs.

To detect these skimming devices, individuals are advised to inspect card readers for signs of tampering, such as loose parts or damaged adhesive tape. It is also recommended to shield the keypad while entering a PIN and be vigilant for any obstructions in the chip slot. Skimming activity tends to target tourist destinations and gas pumps.

In the event of falling victim to such a scam, individuals are encouraged to contact their card issuer and notify local law enforcement. Notably, despite the discovery of skimming devices in Massachusetts, there have been no reported incidents of compromised customer data several days after their discovery.