Urgent buyer alert about sneaky bank draining device found at self-checkout – beware of ‘suspicious activity’

SHOPPERS are finding it increasingly difficult to protect themselves from fraud as more skimmer devices appear in stores across the country.

Police in Towson, Maryland – located 20 minutes north of Baltimore – warned shoppers about a skimming device that was placed in a self-service cash register at a Wawa.

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Skimming devices are sneaky card readers designed to fit into ATMs or self-checkout machine pin pads.

When buyers swipe or insert their cards into readers with a skimmer attached, the card information is stored for later use by criminals.

The illegal practice is becoming more prominent in the US and shoppers may be particularly vulnerable when using a self-checkout kiosk.

The Baltimore County Police Department notified shoppers about the skimmer device at Wawa, located at 1260 Joppa Road, on May 15.

“Anyone who may have been directly affected or knows someone who has been is asked to contact us at 410-887-2222 to file a report,” the statement continues.

“The device has since been removed, but we still ask that you monitor your accounts for any fraudulent activity.”

Shoppers who have recently visited a Wawa location should check their bank statements immediately and contact police if they suspect suspicious transactions.

The US Sun reached out to Wawa and Baltimore police for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

SKIMMER VICTIMS

Wawa shoppers in Maryland aren’t the only ones who have recently fallen victim to skimmers.

Skimming devices can not only be placed on self-check registers, but can also be installed on gas pumps.

Lisa Hilmer of Kansas City, Missouri, said her bank account was emptied after pumping gas.

Hilmer told the local Fox affiliate WDAF that her card was declined while shopping.

When checking her bank statement, she noticed two charges from stores she had never been to.

Walmart shoppers in the Northeast also learned about skimmers the hard way, after a major scam left more than 29,000 credit and debit cards affected.

Stores in New York, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts were affected when 19 skimming devices were deployed across multiple locations.

Suspect Romário Serban was arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, after police found 27,144 compromised credit card numbers and 2,195 debit card numbers and at least $10,000 in suspicious transactions.

A New Hampshire woman expressed her concerns about the scam, telling local ABC affiliate WMUR“People are so upset about what’s going on and still worried about it, even though we say we check in on them all the time.”

STAIN SKIMERS

It can be tricky to identify a skimming device at a typical self-checkout, but there are tips to avoid being scammed.

Card readers do not move easily on official devices and should not come loose if switched.

It is also recommended to use a credit card when making purchases, as they are easier to dispute.

When withdrawing money from ATMs, it is safer to use an official machine from a bank than one from a convenience store or bar.

To remain even more vigilant, cardholders should frequently check their bank statements and report suspicious activity immediately.

Lastly, when using a self-checkout system in a store, shoppers should be alert and avoid devices that appear questionable.