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SHOPPERS are being warned to check their bank accounts after a sneaky card skimmer was discovered at a major grocery store checkout.
The device, which is small and almost impossible to spot, was found in three locations of a popular grocery store.
The police stated that the device found at Piggly Wiggly along Highway 64 in Savannah, Tennessee, may have captured customers’ card details.
The Savannah Police Department responded to the scene on May 29 and confiscated the device as evidence.
Authorities said in a statement it was “unknown” how long the skimmer had been in place and active at the till until it was removed.
The statement noted that police were reviewing security footage from the location to figure out exactly when the device was installed.
“If you recently used your card at this location, please monitor your account for suspicious activity,” the police statement read.
They also urged anyone who has noticed anything strange to contact their bank and local police, telling shoppers, “Stay safe and stay vigilant.”
Officers were called to the store after the device was discovered, Savannah Police Chief Michael Pitts told ABC affiliate WWJB.
“So they asked our officers to come out to the store,” Pitts said.
“Officers went out and collected the device.”
Since then, cops have spoken with other agencies and learned the problem may be bigger than just one store.
“We have found at least two other cities that have found similar devices at their Piggly Wiggly stores,” Pitts added.
Devices have now been recovered across Tennessee in Savannah, Adamsville, and Waynesboro.
Police say they have also contacted state and federal agencies to help push the investigation forward.
The skimmers are made to fit right on top of regular card readers.
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.
“Some work via internet, where it is immediately transmitting that information out,” Pitts said.
“Some work as a database where it is storing that information up. Then the individual will have to return and physically remove that device.”
He warned locals who visited the store over the past few weeks to stay alert.
“If you recently made a purchase at Piggly Wiggly, particularly around the 19th or 20th, make sure to monitor your bank account closely,” advised Pitts.
“Look for irregularities and purchases that are coming out that you didn’t make.”
It is still unclear how many shoppers may have been affected.
Pitts said that police are hopeful they pulled the device out before too much damage was done.
“During our conversation with Chief Pitts on Friday morning, he expressed optimism that the device was removed swiftly, minimizing the number of potential victims,” the department communicated.
Card skimmer scams are rampant around the US, as multiple law enforcement agencies have issued warnings for their areas to be vigilant.
In one instance, the United States Secret Service, in partnership with multiple local authorities in Las Vegas.
In April 2024, Vegas police issued a warning to shoppers to be careful after recovering 18 skimmer devices from retailers in the area.
