Card scammers are becoming prevalent in Camden County and two incidents have the area on alert in a state that’s already known for a high rate of financial fraud.
A card skimmer was found at a Family Dollar in Stratford July 6 and roughly a week earlier in Camden one was discovered at a local Piggly Wiggly.
“The device was fashioned to fit over the store’s actual credit card scanning device,” read a press release from the Stratford Police Department.
Credit card skimmers are usually devices placed over the store’s real card reader to pull information from a debit or credit card but can also happen through hidden cameras and dummy keypads.
Card skimming incidents increased by 40% from 2022 to 2023, according to the Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, the state’s department devoted to monitoring electronic security.
The Department has also listed New Jersey as one of the top five states in the country for card skimming.
“Since the onset of 2024, physical skimmers have been identified and reported to law enforcement in New Jersey, including ATMs at Capital One Bank and Proponent Bank in Nutley, two ATMs at Wawa in Galloway Township, card readers at Dollar Tree and Walmart in Bayonne, and card readers at 7-Eleven stores in Cinnaminson and Pennsauken,” read a press release from the state cybersecurity department. “Additionally, a skimmer was detected at Supremo Food Market in Pennsauken, and skimming devices were recently identified at Aldi Stores in Roselle and Union.”
Some of the state recommendations for consumers include using a credit card since it comes with more consumer protections, checking ATMs for signs of tampering and using contactless payments.
Jelani Gibson may be reached at [email protected].
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