James City County Police are warning residents to keep an eye out for technology that can steal credit card information.
Authorities sent out an alert, saying police had found a skimmer at one of the local banks.
Stephanie Williams, spokeswoman for the police, said it was found at the Bayport Credit Union in New Town.
A skimmer is an inconspicuous device that is placed over a card reader on a machine that scans credit or debit cards, similar to ATM’s and gas pumps. When they are placed on a machine, the criminal will come back after a few days to retrieve it and can then access the card information for all of the cards scanned through the device, authorities said.
Williams said it’s important for people to know that if they notice a skimmer, they should immediately report it to police or financial institution. A skimmer only works if the person who placed it there is able to come back for it.
To avoid becoming a victim of a skimmer, police suggest taking a good look at a card reader to see if it appears to have been tampered with. Users should feel around the card reader to see if parts wiggle or move when gently pressed.
One sign is that some skimmers will cover the flashing indicator light on ATMs.
For more information, visit James City County online.
