Since January 1, 2024, the Irving Police Department has recovered 20 skimming devices and cameras from various locations throughout the city. The devices included 12 deep insert skimmers, some of which were found alongside cameras, 2 cameras recovered from ATMs without accompanying skimmers, 3 Point of Sale (POS) overlays, and 3 gas pump card reader overlays.
Out of the total 20 devices, 13 were found at fuel stations. Of these, 10 were deep insert skimmers on ATMs located at the fuel stations, and 3 were gas pump overlays. Seven devices were recovered from stores, including 4 deep inserts at ATMs and 3 overlays.
Skimming occurs when criminals install devices on ATMs, POS terminals, or fuel pumps to capture data from debit or credit cards, often recording cardholders' PINs. The stolen information is then used to create counterfeit cards and steal money from victims' accounts. Skimming is a significant issue, costing financial institutions and consumers over $1 billion annually.
Authorities recommend the following tips to help prevent skimming:
- Use contactless payment methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
- Inspect ATMs, POS terminals, and card readers before using them, checking for anything loose, damaged, or out of place.
- Pull at the edges of the keypad before entering your PIN and cover the keypad while entering it.
- Use ATMs located in well-lit, indoor areas, which tend to be less vulnerable to tampering.
- Use debit and credit cards with chip technology, as fewer devices can steal chip data compared to magnetic strip data.
- When possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card to protect linked accounts.
- Report any suspicious activity or individuals to the local police department immediately.
On this topic, the North Richland Hills Police Department recently announced that they are using new technology to detect hidden and overlay card skimmers at ATMs, gas pumps, kiosks, and vending machines. This technology is expected to enhance efforts to combat skimming by identifying and removing skimming devices before they can be used to steal cardholder data.
