The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is looking for the suspects involved in a card skimming scheme by placing devices on credit card machines at DC businesses.
In the latest of a string of events, two suspects installed a skimming device on the credit card reader after distracting the salesperson in a convenience store in Northwest Washington.
DC police announced in late September that they seized three card skimmers at convenience stores in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Districts. These are being investigated by the Financial Crimes Unit.
Skimmers are tiny electronic devices that are disguised in legitimate card readers to collect data from credit card users.
MPD shared a number of tips with the public to avoid card skimmers:
- Make sure the device isn’t able to be moved or budges when touched
- Compare your machine to the one next to you, if applicable
- Check the alignment of the card reader and the panel underneath it
- Look inside of the card reader before inserting your card
- If you see or suspect a card skimmer, please contact police immediately at 911
- Notify your bank immediately if you suspect you have been a victim of card skimming
Residents with information about card skimmers or those behind such acts are urged to contact MPD’s 24-hour Command Information Center at (202) 727-9099.
Anyone who suspects of being a victim of card skimming should call the Financial Crimes Unit at (202) 727-4159.