Surveillance footage from Concord. NH, a store where two men installed his credit card skimmer last month, according to local police. Police in other municipalities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire also suspect these suspects, or similarly dressed men, of setting up skimmers in their towns. (Collage, Flint McColgan/Boston Herald, with photos provided by Concord Police Department)
Shoppers, beware.
Police discovered credit card skimmers placed at a Market Basket and Walmart in Concord, New Hampshire, this week, and are working with police in several other towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to confirm that the skimmers found inside the stores were the same person. We are investigating whether this is the work of Or the crew.
Concord Police Deputy Chief John Thomas told the Herald, “Please be vigilant, especially now that we’re heading into the holiday season,” adding that police are seeing an increase in credit card theft in general. He added that it was the season.
The credit card skimmers that his department announced in October were found in the self-checkout lanes at the Loudon Road Walmart and Storrs Street Market Basket were placed over legitimate credit card machines in the stores and looked deceptive. The devices are almost the same. You can find it at gas stations, ATMs, and everywhere else.
“At this time, we are not aware that any customer information has been compromised, and we will continue to monitor this situation closely,” Tewksbury-based Market Basket spokesman Justin Griffin said in a statement. “We are also working with both state and local authorities to assist in identifying those responsible.”
Concord Police say, “A tell-tale sign of these particular ‘skimmers’ is that the card chip reader slot appears inoperable and ‘stuck’, so when the customer swipes the card and the magnetic reader There is a possibility of information theft.”
“It’s very easy to install; it just clicks into any old credit card machine,” Thomas said, adding that if a customer uses the machine normally and has a problem, they can simply pull the top a little and the skimmer snaps out. I added that I’ll check to see if it’s there. “You can see how easy it is to steal some of this information.”
Mr. Thomas said his police department has contacted local police in Nashua, New Hampshire, and police departments in Somerville, Reading and Haverhill (all locations where fraudulent devices have recently appeared) to investigate possible serial credits. He said he has contacted investigators. Card skimming operation.
Concord police have determined that the machines at Walmart and Market Basket were set up by the same two men, and the images were captured on the store’s surveillance camera and released by authorities. Their images showed them wearing scaly hats, long coats, and surgical masks of the type that were popular at the time. Pandemic. He said the suspects in other towns were wearing similar clothing, but that masks and clothing made it difficult for investigators to determine whether they were the same perpetrators.
Thomas said the company has received reports of credit card fraud since the incidents were reported, but said it is difficult to determine whether the cards were compromised at these stores or other locations. .
The Federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency also warns about high-tech skimmers that can read the chip inside cards, combined with the installation of cameras to read PIN numbers. The office advises people to leave the area and consult a bank representative or law enforcement official if they suspect something is wrong, and to avoid placing plastic sheaths in areas where cameras may be hidden or in card slots. It is recommended that preventive measures be taken, such as checking to see if the device has been inserted.
According to a report from the Federal Trade Commission, overall fraud continues to rise, wiping Americans out of $8.8 billion in 2022, an increase of 30% from the previous year.
A Walmart corporate spokesperson told the Herald: “This situation remains an active criminal investigation and we are actively working with law enforcement.”
“Providing a safe shopping experience for our customers is our top priority,” Joe Pennington, director of Walmart’s Global Communications Office, said in a statement. It added that it is continually reviewing its protocols and adding enhanced security measures to better protect you.Please contact your card provider or Walmart’s Customer Care team at 1-800-925-6278.
Concord Police are asking anyone with information about these incidents or the suspects in the photos to contact the department. Email Stephen Hemming at shemming@concordpolice.com or call 603-225-8600, ext. 4854. Those living in other jurisdictions should contact their local police.