Springfield, Ore. – The Springfield Police Department has been made aware of several videos circulating on social media depicting a ‘skimmer’ device found at a local 7-Eleven and subsequent interaction with SPD staff. Upon further review, police were able to determine that the incident seen in the videos occurred on May 19th.
While it is not reflected in the video, immediately after the interaction in the SPD lobby an officer responded, interviewed the complainant, and documented the incident in a police report. The officer also retained the ‘skimmer’ device and processed it as evidence. The officer then responded directly to the 7-Eleven location to investigate further and collect additional information for the case.
The case information has been shared with another law enforcement agency that is investigating similar incidents across the state. Police are continuing to work in support of that investigation at this time and it remains open.
If a customer does discover a ‘skimming’ device at a business, they should notify the local authorities immediately so an investigation can be initiated and evidence recovered.
Springfield Police thank the community for remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities as we take these matters seriously.
Tips to avoid ‘card skimming’ & What to do if you find a ‘skimmer’:
– Inspect ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and other card readers before using. Look for anything loose, crooked, damaged, or scratched. Don’t use any card reader if you notice anything unusual.
– Pull at the edges of the keypad before entering your PIN. Then, cover the keypad when you enter your PIN to prevent cameras from recording your entry.
– If you locate a ‘skimmer’ at a business, contact your local law enforcement agency and remain at the business with the ‘skimmer’ until officers arrive and collect the appropriate evidence.
– Use debit and credit cards with chip technology. In the U.S., there are fewer devices that steal chip data versus magnetic stripe data.
– Avoid using your debit card when you have linked accounts. Use a credit card instead.
– Contact your financial institution if the ATM doesn’t return your card after you end or cancel a transaction.
(Information from SPD)
