BOSTON — The Boston Police Department has issued a community alert regarding a recent rise in credit card skimming devices being used across Massachusetts.
Skimming occurs when criminals install devices on Automated Teller Machines (ATM) or Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals to steal card information.
These devices are often found at locations such as pharmacies, gas stations, and grocery stores.
Criminals can conceal skimming devices inside ATM card readers, making them difficult to detect.
These devices capture data from the card’s magnetic stripe or chip.
Perpetrators may also use tiny “pinhole cameras” on ATMs to record PINs, which are often hard to spot.
Additionally, plastic overlays that mimic the appearance of POS terminals are used to steal card data and PINs.
The BPD provided the following tips to help protect against credit card skimming:
Use ATMs located inside financial institutions, near security cameras, or by drive-up windows, as they are less likely to be targeted.
Check for signs of tampering at ATMs, such as broken lights, raised PIN pads with loose parts, or unusual stickers.
Always shield your PIN while entering it to prevent pinhole cameras from capturing it.
Inspect the edges of POS terminals and keypads for signs of tampering.
If you believe you are a victim of skimming:
Immediately contact your card issuer’s fraud department to report the incident.
Deactivate the compromised card and request a replacement with a new PIN.
Closely monitor affected accounts.
Report skimming incidents to local law enforcement and/or the Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov.
