Walmart Card Skimmer Suspect Sought By Aberdeen Police

ABERDEEN, MD — Aberdeen Police asked for the public's help in identifying a suspect they believe has connections to a card skimmer found inside a local Walmart.

Police believe the man in the photo below placed the card skimmer at the store.

Skimmers that record your PIN and drain your bank account can be dropped into place in seconds over legitimate card readers at stores.

The devices allow criminals to steal cardholder information from both credit and debit cards. Police in a Prince George's County case where $700,000 was stolen from card-holders in October urged residents to use credit cards rather than debit cards; cards with chips are more secure because fewer skimmers in the U.S. are capable of stealing chip data, police said.

Before using any type of credit or debit card, follow these safety tips:

• Inspect ATMs or card readers - look for anything loose, crooked, damaged, or scratched. Don't use any card reader if you notice anything unusual.
• Pull at the edges of the keypad before entering your PIN. Then, cover the keypad when you enter your PIN to prevent cameras from recording your entry.
• Use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location, which are less vulnerable targets.
• Use debit and credit cards with chip technology. In the U.S., there are fewer devices that steal chip data versus magnetic strip data.
• Avoid using your debit card when you have linked accounts. When possible, use a credit card instead.
• Contact your financial institution if the ATM doesn't return your card after you end or cancel a transaction.
• If you are concerned that your card may have been skimmed, change your PIN to prevent financial loss.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Ferebee at 410-272-2121 or LFerebee@aberdeenmd.gov.

If you can identify the subject in this photo, please contact Officer Ferebee at 410-272-2121 or at LFerebee@aberdeenmd.gov. He is suspected of placing a skimming device at Walmart. #harfordnews #StopTheThefts pic.twitter.com/KedxkzyaSZ
— Aberdeen Police Dept (@AberdeenPDMD) November 26, 2022d