As if there weren’t enough things to worry about. Your credit card information may be stolen by simply using it in local retail stores, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police warn.
Scammers have recently been targeting the Las Vegas area by using EMV (Smart Chip) “skimmers,” according to metro police‘s Twitter.
These “skimmers” are sleek, discrete add-ons to credit card machines that can be easily overlooked. These small devices can collect information from thousands of cards and even steal PIN number information.
The police say when unsuspecting customers insert their cards in a machine, the skimmer will still processes the purchase while simultaneously collecting your card’s data. The customer thinks they made an innocent purchase when in reality, scammers have just collected their credit card information.
Due to the discrete nature of “skimmers,” these devices can stay in place for a long period of time, which makes this a big problem, police said on Twitter. “Skimmers” are commonly found in ATMs, gas station pumps and “unmonitored” pay stations.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers often don’t notice their information was stolen until the bank sends a statement or an overdraft notice.
To avoid being a victim to this scam, here are a few tips to spot these devices so you can protect your financial security.
