Card Skimmer Found At Manassas Area Grocery Store

MANASSAS, VA — Prince William County Police are warning residents about a skimming device found at a grocery store in Manassas.

The credit card skimming device, which can collect card numbers and PIN numbers, was found on July 15 at the Global Food store, 10320 Festival Ln. in Manassas. Police say the skimming device was placed on the terminal at register #2. A customer had located the skimming device that day.

Police do not believe the checkout terminal was tampered with, aside from the skimming device. No other skimming devices were located at the store. Shoppers who may have used register #2 on July 15 are encouraged to monitor their card for fraudulent activity.

According to the FBI, skimming devices may be illegally placed on or outside ATMs, checkout terminals, or gas pumps. The culprits behind skimming devices may use the data to make fraudulent cards or make fraudulent purchases or thefts from victims' accounts. Skimming devices on checkout terminals and ATMs may be inserted in card readers or another place on the terminal. Some devices fit over the card reader.

Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of card skimmers:

• Inspect ATMs, POS terminals, and other card readers before using. 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 as fully as possible when you enter your PIN to prevent cameras from recording your entry. A pinhole camera may be present anywhere on or around the terminal.
• If possible, use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location. These may still be compromised, but are less-vulnerable targets.
• Be especially alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, since these are popular targets.
• When possible, use debit and credit cards with chip technology. There are fewer devices in the U.S. that steal chip data than magnetic strip data. However, the mag-stripe data on the backs of these cards is still vulnerable.
• Avoid using your debit card when you have linked accounts, since the card's compromise will give criminals access to other accounts. Use a credit card instead.
• Routinely monitor your credit card, bank, and EBT or other benefits accounts to promptly identify any unauthorized transactions. If possible, set email or text-message alerts to notify you of card or account transactions.
• Proactively review the account-security options available for any payment cards you use. These options can include multi-factor authentication of transactions or freezing an account between your own transactions to significantly reduce the risk of financial losses.
• Contact your financial institution immediately if the ATM doesn't return your card after you end or cancel a transaction. This may suggest the presence of a foreign device in the card reader.