Police in one Southern California city have seized an illegal card skimmer from a gas station that was virtually impossible to detect.
The skimmer was attached to a gas pump card reader and PIN pad at an ARCO station in the 13500 block of Euclid Street in Garden Grove, that city’s police department shared on social media.
The device was nearly identical to the real card reader behind it. It’s unknown how long the skimmer had been attached and how many drivers were victimized.
According to the FBI, card skimming costs consumers and banking institutions more than $1 billion each year. Crooks install devices on ATMs, gas pumps or point-of-sale terminals and then swipe your account data to steal money.
Spotting a card skimmer can be extremely difficult.
To avoid becoming a victim, experts say you should check devices for tampering before use, looking carefully for tape, glue residue, or bulkiness on any part of the ATM. Also, cover your hand when entering your PIN, and review your bank statements regularly.
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