Customers at Stop & Shop rival urged to check bank statements after self-checkout device gave criminals access to data

SHOPPERS at a Stop & Shop rival retailer could be victims of fraud after thieves snuck card skimming devices onto store self-checkout kiosks.

Customers have been urged to check their bank statements as police investigate the incidents.

Alamy

Shoppers at Big Y in Naugatuck and Plainville, Connecticut , could be at risk for fraud if they used the self-checkout lane on June 29, 2024, WWLP 22 reported .

“We are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident, and we notified and are working with law enforcement,” the chain told the outlet.

“We have inspected all of our terminals, and continue to do so. If we learn that any particular customer’s information was compromised, we will promptly notify them and provide them with additional information so that they can take steps to protect themselves.”

Customers are encouraged to review their bank statements for any fraudulent activity and to contact their bank or credit card company immediately if they find anything suspicious.

Card skimmers are not only found at convenience stores – they can also be planted at ATMs and gas stations.

Once credit card details are obtained, then fraudsters can use them to their advantage.

Experts have revealed tips on how shoppers can protect themselves.

They should inspect the machine before inserting their cards.

Shoppers should avoid using the machine if there’s a part that bulges.

Alarm bells should also ring if the buttons on the card machine are difficult to press.

Customers should use a different card reader if they feel it could break.

To avoid falling victim to such scams, shoppers can pay for goods using cash.

Alternatively, they can use contactless payment.

ATM users have been urged to inspect the machines before withdrawing money , according to experts at Capital One.

Scammers may also plant a camera that captures an ATM user entering their PIN.

How to spot a skimmer

There are a few things to looks out for when trying to spot a skimmer

• ATM skimmer devices usually fit over the original card reader.
• Some ATM skimmers are inserted in the card reader, placed in the terminal, or situated along exposed cables.
• Pinhole cameras installed on ATMs record a customer entering their PIN. Pinhole camera placement varies widely.
• In some cases, keypad overlays are used instead of pinhole cameras to records PINs. Keypad overlays record a customer’s keystrokes.
• Skimming devices store data to be downloaded or wirelessly transferred later.

Credit – The FBI

Security experts have warned the devices can be inserted in just seconds.

Officials at the Minnesota Department of Commerce say it’s rare for more than one skimming device to be planted at a particular location.

CRIME MOB

Skimmers have not only been linked to everyday fraudsters but also serious retail crime organizations.

Earlier this year, dozens of people connected to a Romanian crime mob in California were arrested for utilizing skimmers.

“They’ll have people sitting outside a Walmart or a Target, and it looks like they’re panhandling,” says Kimberly Edds, director of public affairs with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, according to the New York Post .

“Sometimes they’ll have a couple of kids. And they are actually using Bluetooth technology that’s connected to the skimmers inside the stores.

“So it’s like a two-for-one, getting cash that people give them and stealing the numbers of the skimmers.”