Card-Skimmer Suspect Photos Released By Anne Arundel Police (ICYMI)

ODENTON, MD — Surveillance photos of two men suspected of installing card-skimmers at an Odenton Exxon gas station were released by Anne Arundel County Police. Detectives ask that anyone who recognizes the pair contact police.

A card-skimming device was found June 27 on a gas pump at the Exxon, 1318 Annapolis Road in Odenton. Duplicate cards were then used later that day at the 7-Eleven store, 1350 Odenton Road in Odenton.

Skimming devices to capture data on ATM and credit cards are a frequent problem across Maryland, leaving residents wondering how they can protect themselves when paying electronically or withdrawing cash. New reports have surfaced in recent weeks of skimmers at outdoor ATMs and gas stations, so Patch has tips to help you keep your money safe. (SIGN UP: Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

A card skimmer is a small device that affixes to a card reader allowing a thief to illegally collect the credit and debit card information of unsuspecting customers. Most commonly, card skimmers are put on ATMs, gas station pumps or self-checkout machines.

The typical ATM skimmer is smaller than a deck of cards and fits over an existing card reader, says PC Mag. Not sure what a card-skimming device looks like? This website shows various skimmers on ATMs, so you know what to look for at ATMs, gas stations and drive-up bank locations.

SEE ALSO: Card Skimmers In Maryland: Here's How To Spot Them

But what should you look out for so that you can avoid having your financial information stolen from a skimmer? If you see obvious signs of tampering, or the machine looks suspicious or different than normal, don't use it, experts say.

"One giveaway that you might be at risk is if a terminal looks especially wide — since any overlay skimmer piece will inevitably take up extra space," says Mic.com.

And as a Patch reader shared, be wary of ATMs at stores, because they might not be checked regularly for skimmers. Also, it’s not a bad idea to use cash at gas stations and other spots where thieves might have an opportunity to attach skimming devices.

Banking websites and police have tips to help foil skimmers. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission issued a warning to consumers, saying that while skimmers aren't new, emerging technology is making them smaller and harder to spot.

How to Protect Your ATM Card

• Use secure ATM machines under video surveillance or inside a bank lobby. They’re less likely to be tampered with.
• Pay careful attention to what the card reader and keypad normally look like on the ATMs you use most frequently.
• Don’t use an ATM if the card reader appears to be added on, fits poorly or is loose. Some thieves place a fake box over the card slot that reads and records account and PIN numbers.
• Inspect the machine for items that were installed over or around the PIN pad of the ATM. Look for an attachment on the ATM that contains a small hole that is pointed in the direction of the PIN pad.
• Lightly tug the area of the card slot. Most skimming devices are attached with double-sided tape for quick removal by the crooks.
• Cover the keypad with your other hand while typing your PIN. This is the best way to ensure that your PIN number is not recorded.

Anyone with information about the two men pictured is asked to contact Officer Brewer at 410-222-6155.

Patch Editor Kara Seymour contributed to this story

»Card-skimming suspect photos courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police