Card Skimming Devices Found In Montco Stores, Suspects Sought

LIMERICK, PA — Credit card skimming devices have been found on credit card machines at several locations in Montgomery County, authorities announced. Police have launched an investigation to determine the extent of the skimmers, and are asking for the public's help in identifying a pair of possible suspects.

The devices were found at Aldi supermarket stores in both Lower Pottsgrove and Limerick townships, police said. Both point of sale terminals and ATM machines were compromised.

The suspects in the case have not been identified and are believed to be part of a larger "criminal enterprise" that is operating throughout the Philadelphia area, police said. The same group is responsible for placing skimming devices on ATMs throughout the region.

Police said there have been several victims, and that the suspects used the victims' information to make fraudulent debit card purchases.

Surveillance footage has identified images of two men who are being described as "persons of interest" in the case. You can review the footage at the bottom of this story; their images are also included above.

It's not yet clear how long the devices may have been affixed to the readers, or how much money they have taken.

RELATED: How To Spot Card Skimmers, And Avoid Becoming The Next Victim

Customers who shopped at either Aldi location in recent months should check their credit card statements for anomalies.

Last fall, there were numerous reports recently of card skimmers being placed on ATMs and card reading devices throughout the Montgomery County area. Skimmers are a small device affixed 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.

In Montgomery County, skimming devices have previously been located in Abington, King of Prussia, and Willow Grove.

Police offer the following tips for the public:

• When using your credit cards and debit cards, refrain from using ATMs in unsecure locations, which have an easier potential of being compromised.
• Users should inspect the terminal prior to use. If the terminal appears different than other terminals or tampered with, refrain from using that terminal.
• Police also suggest using chip readers rather than the magnetic strip readers where possible. This method is less likely to result in a compromise of your credit card.

If you have any information on the suspects or possible skimming activities, contact Lower Pottsgrove police at 610-326-1508.

Patch file photo