GROCERY store shoppers have been urged to check their bank accounts after a spate of info-stealing devices were discovered inside supermarkets.
Retail bosses warned any shoppers who may be victims to call the cops.
Executives at Weis Markets disclosed that skimming devices, which are exceedingly hard to detect visually, were discovered in three of their stores earlier this year.
The locations impacted shoppers in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, as per Progressive Grocer.
Weis chiefs warned that those who planted the skimming devices may have been able to access customers’ card details.
Potential victims may not just be those who entered their PINs.
Skimmers were found at two stores on March 15 and 16 this year.
One was located at a store in Dundalk, Maryland, while the second was found in Fredericksburg.
Shoppers at risk were those who visited between March 14 and March 16.
The discoveries came after a skimmer was found inside the chain’s Tannersville location.
Bosses warned that customers who visited the store between January 28 and 30 may be at risk.
Weis chiefs have issued an urgent warning to customers.
The retailer has recommended shoppers to remain vigilant and came a close eye on their bank statements.
They should report any potential losses immediately to their bank.
Weis has also encouraged shoppers to report cases to the police so they can investigate.
Weis, a chain with almost 200 stores across the US, is not the only retailer that has been affected by skimming devices.
Dollar General customers have also been warned to check their bank accounts for any losses caused by skimming devices.
The U.S. Sun reported how cops in Ohio warned about the risks of skimmers after the devices were spotted inside a CVS store.
What is a skimmer device?
A skimmer device is a fraud tool designed to steal sensitive information from credit or debit cards during transactions.
- Imagine a skimmer device as a sneaky thief that hides on ATMs or card machines.
- Its job is to secretly steal your credit or debit card information when you use it for a transaction.
- These devices are like tiny spies that can copy your card details, including the card number and PIN, without you even realizing it.
- Skimmers can be cleverly disguised to look just like the regular card reader, making them hard to spot.
- Once they have your information, bad guys can use it to make fake cards or buy things without your permission, causing a lot of trouble and stress.
- It’s important to always be cautious and check for anything unusual on card machines before using them to protect yourself from these sneaky devices.
A skimmer is a thin strip that can read card numbers and steal payment information.
And, they can be cleverly disguised making them extremely difficult to spot.
This is a developing story…
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