Credit Card Skimmers Found At These 11 Big Y Locations – How To Protect Yourself
Here we go again! We’ve heard a lot lately about scams involving credit card skimmers. The skimmers, used by scammers, are disguised as official point-of-sale payment terminals. A lot of times, they fit over the store’s own credit card machine and when you use it, it gives your data to a thief when you make a payment. These skimmers have been found in many areas throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and now has hit another Massachusetts supermarket location.
Big Y credit card skimmers
Big Y supermarket just announced that there were credit card skimmer incidents at some of their stores. A person had installed a skimming device on a single terminal at Big Y stores in Massachusetts. This happened between December 19th and the 21st last year. Here are the locations that were affected, so if you visit them, make sure to check your credit card statements.
- St. James Avenue in Springfield
- Cooley Street in Springfield
- The Chicopee express location on Granby Road
- Off Route 5 in Northampton
- The Ware location on West Street
- East Main Street in Southbridge
- The Worcester location on Mayfield Street
- The Milford location on Medway Road
- The Wilbraham express location on Boston Road
- Center Street in Ludlow
- East Silver Street in Westfield (between December 19, 2023 and January 12, 2024.
How to skimmers work?
These skimmers can affect anyone who uses a credit or debit card at an ATM, at gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, or retail stores. The scammer will install a device on the card reader that will collect card numbers. The thief will then take this information and use it to make fraudulent purchases. According to this report by Forbes, there are times when a tiny camera is planted that records customers entering a PIN number into an ATM. But that’s not the only way to get a PIN number. Sometimes fake keypads are placed over a real ATM keypad. The thieves will also use your card info: for identity theft, to create counterfeit cards, or sell your data to other scammers.
How to protect yourself from skimmers
There are some ways that you can protect yourself, and Experian offers these tips.
- Use the safest payment method available. Tapping your digital wallet or a contactless card can be safer than inserting or swiping your card. If that’s not an option, inserting the card’s chip is safer than swiping.
- Cover the pad when typing in your PIN. Not fool-proof because a keypad cover could still record what you type. But you should cover your hand when you enter your PIN or ZIP code. This can can keep cameras from recording you.
- Compare other card readers nearby. Look for even minor differences. Odd colors, small holes, anything that could indicate the presence of a card skimming device.
- Manipulate the edge of the device. You could try pulling on the card reader or keypad to see if there’s a skimming device that moves or comes off.
Be safe out there!
