A FUMING Walmart shopper revealed she woke up to hundreds of dollars worth of random charges after using one of the self-checkout tills.
Kenzie Robles from York County said some $700 was stolen from her account after she visited a Walmart in West York over the weekend.
Walmart Shoppers are being warned to check their bank accounts after using self checkouts[/caption]
A skimming device was found at a self-checkout[/caption]
She said she was shopping for a family vacation after buying the things she inserted her card into the self-check-out machine.
But what happened the next day left her devastated.
She told CBS 21: “My husband went to get gas in the morning, and his card was locked for the bank and that’s when I went onto my mobile banking app, and that’s when I saw there were numerous charges that I did not make.
“It literally takes one second and they take your money in literally a second and you’re kind of just blinded by it unless you physically see this device you have no idea.”
She added that within 24 hours, her card was used at multiple locations.
Cops said it was a classic case of card skimming.
Police Chief John Snyder said it could be a case of organised crime targeting multiple retail locations in York County.
Card skimmers are devices used to read card numbers and PINs, making it easy for thieves to drain bank accounts.
Robles blamed Walmart for not accepting cash at many counters.
She said: “A majority of their [Walmart] check-outs don’t accept cash and none of their self-checkouts accept tap.
“I don’t normally look for them [card skimmers], like I said I have three small kids so when I’m in the store.
“They are hard to see because they look like, you know, a credit card machine that you would normally use.
What is a skimmer device?
A SKIMMER device is a fraud tool designed to steal sensitive information from credit or debit cards during transactions.
- Imagine a skimmer device as a sneaky thief that hides on ATMs or card machines.
- Its job is to secretly steal your credit or debit card information when you use it for a transaction.
- These devices are like tiny spies that can copy your card details, including the card number and PIN, without you even realizing it.
- Skimmers can be cleverly disguised to look just like the regular card reader, making them hard to spot.
- Once they have your information, bad guys can use it to make fake cards or buy things without your permission, causing a lot of trouble and stress.
- It’s important to always be cautious and check for anything unusual on card machines before using them to protect yourself from these sneaky devices.
A spokesperson for Walmart said: “Walmart works hard to keep our customers safe from scammers and other criminals seeking to harm our customers.
“Walmart’s robust anti-fraud program has been effective at fighting fraud, and we are continuously evolving to respond to the fraudsters’ ever-changing tactics.”
Shoppers are being warned to check their bank accounts after a sneaky skimming device was discovered at another self-checkout at Walmart.
The thin, card-swiping gadget was one of five devices found at different stores in the same area.
The sinister gadgets were found at businesses in West Gastonia, North Carolina.
Gastonia police say the device at Walmart was stealing card details in real-time, passing them straight to scammers.
They refused to name the other stores where devices were found but warned shoppers to stay alert, Gaston Gazette reported.
Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate, said even chip-enabled cards aren’t always safe.
“Scammers trick the system into asking for a swipe instead of reading the chip,” Rossman explained.
He said fraudsters place a fake payment terminal over the real one – and it’s almost impossible to tell.
“It looks real. The machine then tells you to swipe because it doesn’t recognize the chip,” he said.
That’s when the skimmer snatches your data, handing it over to crooks instantly.
Skimmers pop up anywhere digital payments are used, but some spots are bigger targets.
“Skimmers are more common at self checkouts or gas stations,” Rossman said.
“It’s harder to put one of these in under the cashier’s nose.”
A dimly lit gas station or a busy self-checkout are prime locations, making it simple for scammers to slip them on.
One way to spot a skimmer is if something feels off with the card reader.
“The biggest tip-off is if something doesn’t fit right,” Rossman warned.
Unfortunately, most people don’t notice until it’s too late.
Experts say it’s crucial to check bank statements regularly for fraudulent transactions.
Rossman also advised using credit cards over debit cards since they offer better fraud protection.
