STOCKTON, Calif. — With more people hitting the roads and making purchases this week, officials in San Joaquin County are warning the public about the risk of falling victim to card skimmers when using credit and debit cards.
"Around this time, the holidays, everyone is either getting cash for presents, getting cash to go to the store, to go shopping," said Andres Lopez, public information officer with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. "Around this time, there are extra travelers on the road."
According to FICO, there was a nearly 77% increase in the number of cards impacted by skimmers in the first half of 2023. It's a trend that Lopez said has also been noticed in San Joaquin County.
"It's a device that goes over the keypad for an ATM machine or for when you use your debit card," said Lopez. "It harvests your information and with that information, it can be used for fraud, for other types of illegal activities. Sometimes, they'll gather enough information and sell that information online."
Skimmers can remain on a card reader or pin pad anywhere from a few hours to a few days, potentially exposing thousands of card users to fraud, according to officials.
Gas stations, convenience stores, department stores and ATMs are just some of the places where skimmers are frequently placed, which is why Lopez said people should be cautious when using a debit or credit card for a purchase.
"When you go to a gas station or ATM machine, look at (the card reader or pin pad). If it looks different than the one you've seen before, that's a sign. One thing you can do also is manipulate it. You can go in there and just kind of mess with it or move it around. If it's off or if it's loose, that's another sign that there's a skimmer on top of that keypad," said Lopez. "When you go to a gas station, they have a seal on the outside when they open the machine up... if that seal is broken, that's a sign that I wouldn't use that gas pump"
The Better Business Bureau also tells card users to cover the keypad when entering a PIN, to not proceed if there is resistance when the card is inserted and to use contactless payment methods if available.
"If there's an unusual transaction on your account that you know for sure that's not you, immediately notify your credit card companies," said Lopez. "If you find a skimmer on a gas pump or in a convenience store, definitely call law enforcement."
Deputies hope that their warnings will keep the surprises under the tree this holiday season instead of inside bank accounts.
"At the sheriff's office, we want to make sure our citizens are safe for the holidays," said Lopez. "Especially now during the holidays, be aware of your surroundings."
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