NEWTON — A credit card skimming device was discovered this morning at the 7/11 store located at 612 Washington St. in Newtonville, prompting a warning from local authorities to customers who recently patronized the business.
Customers who have used their credit or bank cards at this location in the past few weeks are strongly advised by the Newton Police Department to review their account statements for any signs of fraudulent activity.
Detectives are currently investigating the situation, and a photo of the skimming device has been released to aid public awareness.
Credit card skimmers are discreet devices that can be either inserted into or placed over legitimate card readers to steal card information during a transaction.
These devices are typically found on ATMs, gas pumps, and store registers and can be difficult to detect.
The skimmer discovered at the 7/11 was one that overlays the existing card reader, making it especially challenging for customers to notice anything amiss.
In light of this incident, the Newton Police Department is urging everyone to inspect card readers before use.
If the machine looks altered or tampered with in any way, they recommend not using it and reporting the suspicious device to the establishment and local law enforcement.
