7 Credit Card Skimmers Found During Secret Service Operation in Arkansas

The United States Secret Service says 7 illegal credit card skimmers were discovered during a recent anti-skimming operation conducted with local law enforcement agencies in Arkansas.

The operation took place from July 14 through July 16 in the greater Little Rock and northwest Arkansas areas.

More than 9,000 gas pumps, automated teller machines and point-of-sale terminals were inspected during the 3-day operation.

Officials estimate the 7 devices could have resulted in financial losses of up to $7.3 million if they had remained undetected.

Credit card skimmers are illegal devices used to capture information stored on a card’s magnetic stripe.

Criminals may secretly install the devices inside or over legitimate card readers at gas pumps, automated teller machines and retail payment terminals.

Some skimming devices are difficult to detect because they are designed to resemble part of the original payment terminal.

Information collected by a skimmer can be used to create fraudulent cards, make unauthorized purchases or access a victim’s financial accounts.

Consumers are encouraged to inspect payment terminals before inserting a card.

Potential signs of tampering can include loose or damaged card readers, mismatched colors, broken security seals, unusual attachments or keypads that appear thicker than normal.

Customers should gently check whether a card reader moves or appears to have been placed over another device.

Officials recommend using chip-enabled cards or tap-to-pay technology whenever possible. These payment methods generally provide additional protection compared with swiping a card’s magnetic stripe.

Consumers using gas pumps can also consider paying inside the store or selecting pumps located closer to the building and visible to employees.

Bank and credit card statements should be reviewed regularly for unfamiliar transactions.

Anyone who notices an unauthorized charge should immediately contact the financial institution that issued the card.

A suspicious card reader or possible skimming device should not be removed or handled by a customer. Consumers should notify the business and contact local law enforcement.

News Staff (1)