| Photo by Stephen Phillips on Unsplash
NEW BRITAIN, CT – Connecticut has launched a statewide campaign to combat a rise in credit, debit, and EBT card skimmers targeting consumers. At the same time, it also launched an education campaign to help people learn the signs of skimmers and fraud, police investigations, and increased efforts by the Connecticut Food Association to train frontline staff in stores and place security tape over point-of-sale devices to make skimmers easier to recognize.
Skimmers are devices illegally installed on or inside ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, or fuel pumps. Criminals use them to capture consumers’ credit, debit, and EBT card data and any associated PIN entries. The data is then used to create fake payment cards, make unauthorized purchases, or steal from victims’ accounts.
The Lamont administration encourages consumers to be aware of potential skimming devices during card transactions. Often, skimming devices are overlaid on top of the legitimate card reader. Before using a credit, debit, or EBT card, officials consumers should always do first:
- Visually inspect the card reading device to see if something looks off or abnormal, such as sticky keys, an added bulk, or mismatched colors.
- Give the device a wiggle before using it to ensure it is intact.
- Inspect the card slot before inserting a card to see if it appears to be different or heavier than usual or if any components seem loose or altered.
- Whenever in doubt, consumers should always switch to another machine and alert a store manager or police.
“These scammers are targeting Connecticut consumers who are just trying to fuel their cars, buy groceries, and feed their families,” Governor Ned Lamont said. “Our state agencies are working together, along with our towns and cities, local police departments, and the federal government, to combat this issue and keep us safe. But it will require all of us remaining vigilant, learning the signs of a skimming device, sharing that information with our friends and family, and reporting any incidents to the police to bring this scam to an end.”
Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said targeting hardworking Connecticut families at the grocery store is one of the most shameful practices. “We are encouraging everyone to learn the signs of a skimmer, monitor your accounts for signs of fraudulent activity, and report any skimming device or fraud to your local police.”
SNAP benefits, which are critical to those who receive them, are likewise affected by the theft and fraud of their EBT cards. Andrea Barton Reeves advises recipients to change their PIN every month. “We have been using social media, text messaging, and community meetings to get the word out, but the criminals are working just as hard,” she said.
“Providing customers with a safe shopping experience is a top priority for food retailers,” Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, said. “Grocery stores are continually reviewing protocols and adding enhanced security measures to better protect in-store electronic payment transactions, including purchases using debit, credit, and SNAP EBT cards.”
Additional tips consumers can take to protect themselves from skimming include:
- Shield your PIN – Always cover the keypad when entering your PIN number and change it frequently. To avoid theft of benefits from EBT cards, change your PIN number before and after every transaction and make sure to change it just before the beginning of a new month when new benefits load.
- Use contactless payments—Select contactless payments, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and chip cards, instead of using the magnetic stripe.
- Monitor your accounts frequently for unusual activity. Set up alerts and watch for anything that seems unusual. Contact your financial institution immediately if you detect that your information has been compromised.
In addition to notifying a store manager and local or state police whenever the presence of a skimming device is suspected, consumers who become aware of any scam activity can report it to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection by filing a complaint online using “File A Complaint” tool at ct.gov/DCP.
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
