OZARK, Ala. (WDHN) — The Ozark Police Department is encouraging residents to stay vigilant when using debit and credit cards, warning that credit card skimmers are becoming a more prominent issue.
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In a statement on social media, the department shared photos from real investigations conducted by Ozark Police's Capt. Evans to help citizens recognize devices and avoid becoming victims of fraud and theft.
According to police, skimmers are illegal devices placed over or inside legitimate card readers to capture debit and credit card information. Criminals can later retrieve that information and use it to make unauthorized purchases or access victims' accounts.
Authorities said skimmers are commonly found at gas pumps, ATMs in less-populated areas and payment terminals at retail stores or grocery stores.
To help reduce the risk of becoming a victim, the OPD recommends inspecting card readers before using them, stating, "If the card reader looks unusually loose, bulky, or different from other machines, don't use it."
According to OPD, always choose a gas pump closer to the door in clear view of foot traffic and camera footage as these are less likely to be compromised.
Another tip from investigators is to select the credit option when using a debit card. Doing so allows customers to bypass entering a PIN, which can help reduce the amount of sensitive information captured if a skimmer is present.
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