Local police warn of card skimming scams

 

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- Is card skimming on the rise in Michiana?

The type of fraud is done when scammers sneak illegal card skimmers into payment terminals, grabbing data from your card's magnetic stripe while still allowing you to make your purchase.

ABC57 has noticed posts in local Facebook groups warning others for potential card skimmers at stores, gas stations, and ATMs across Michiana.

And several comments under the posts read "This just happened to me too," or "I'm a victim too."

But local police departments say they haven't seen a sudden influx of police reports related to card skimming.

"It'll come in a streak," explains Steve Headley, a sergeant at the Mishawaka Police Department. "Then when the people have gotten X number of victims, they'll go out and remove their device and just move on."

It's not often the police are called to investigate card skimming, but then they do, they say it's pretty easy to track down.

"The actual skim of the person's account happened somewhere in Elkhart, and I have to guess a duplicate card was made, then used at a store in Mishawaka, says Sergeant Headley about a recent skimming case in Mishawaka.

If you're not actively looking for a skimmer when you're about to use your card, you'll notice when it's too late, and the money is already gone from your bank account.

"It's easy because people are busy, says Sergeant Headley.

Police say protecting yourself from card skimmers if actually quite simple.

First of all, if your card has a 'Tap to Pay' feature, utilize it.

If there is no 'Tap to Pay' feature, give the card reader a good jiggle before you insert your card.

"If it's loose, there might be a problem there," Sergeant Headley says.

And it's always best practice to shield your PIN entry.

"In case there is an outlying camera that is looking to grab the PIN sequence from your card," warns Sergeant Headley.

Don't just go to the bank to cancel you card if you believe you're a victim.

Police say it's easier to detect a ring of card skimmers if it's reported.

"If we can establish a pattern, that can maybe help our investigators be able to try to pull some surveillance footage from places to see if we can find a vehicle or catch people in the act of placing the device on one of the machines," Sergeant Headley explains.

Card skimmers can also steal information from EBT cards.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration suggest locking your EBT card if you believe you're at risk.