(NEW BRITAIN, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today joined state agency leaders and law enforcement officials at a news conference to highlight steps Connecticut is taking to combat a rise in credit, debit, and EBT card skimmers targeting consumers. This includes the launch of an education campaign to help people learn the signs of skimmers and fraud, police investigations, and increased efforts by the Connecticut Food Association to train frontline staff in stores and place security tape over point-of sale devices to make skimmers easier to recognize.

Skimmers are devices that are illegally installed on or inside ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, or fuel pumps and are used by criminals to capture consumers’ credit, debit, and EBT card data and any associated PIN entries. Criminals use the data to create fake payment cards and then make unauthorized purchases or steal from victims’ accounts.

Consumers are encouraged to always be on the lookout for the presence of potential skimming devices at the point of card transactions. Often, skimming devices are overlaid on top of the legitimate card reader. Before using a credit, debit, or EBT card, consumers should always first:

Visually inspect the card reading device to see if something looks off or abnormal, such as sticky keys, an added bulk, or mismatched colors.
Give the device a wiggle before using it to make sure it is intact.
Inspect the card slot before inserting a card to see if it appears to be different or heavier than usual, or if any components seem loose or altered.

Whenever in doubt, consumers should always switch to another machine and alert a store manager or police.

“These scammers are targeting Connecticut consumers who are just trying to fuel their cars, buy groceries, and feed their families,” Governor Lamont said. “Our state agencies are working together, along with our towns and cities, local police departments, and the federal government, to combat this issue and keep us safe. But it will require all of us remaining vigilant, learning the signs of a skimming device, sharing that information with our friends and family, and reporting any incidents to the police to bring this scam to an end.”

“We see scams and fraud all the time, but targeting hardworking Connecticut families at the grocery store is one of the most shameful,” Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said. “We are encouraging everyone to learn the signs of a skimmer, monitor your accounts for signs of fraudulent activity, and report any skimming device or fraud to your local police.”

“We know that SNAP benefits, which are delivered to recipients on EBT cards, are critical to those who receive them, and we are working hard to educate people about how to prevent theft and fraud by changing their PIN on a monthly basis,” Connecticut Social Services Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said. “We have been using social media, text messaging, and community meetings to get the word out, but the criminals are working just as hard. The Department of Social Services takes fraud prevention seriously and works diligently to ensure the benefits reach those who qualify. We have made dent, and the number of stolen benefits has leveled off, including a 48% drop in stolen benefits from the first week of June to the first week of August.”

“The Connecticut State Police urge all of the state’s residents to be alert to any inconsistencies in how devices may appear,” Connecticut State Police Sergeant Luke Davis said. “Avoid using any terminal that appears to be damaged or altered. Physically check the PIN pad and card slot of an ATM for security, as some scammers use an adhesive product when tampering with them. Always obscure the view of the ATM or retail keypad so that your PIN stays private. In addition, when fueling a vehicle, use the pumps positioned closest to the building as they are least likely to be tampered with. If possible, use ‘tap to pay’ at all retail establishments. If you see anything that looks suspicious, do not risk your personal information being compromised. Contact your local or state police to report your suspicions.”

“Providing customers with a safe shopping experience is a top priority for food retailers,” Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, said. “Grocery stores are continually reviewing protocols and adding enhanced security measures to better protect in-store electronic payment transactions, including purchases using debit, credit, and SNAP EBT cards.”

Additional tips consumers can take to protect themselves from skimming include:

Shield your PIN – Always cover the keypad when entering your PIN number and change it frequently. To avoid theft of benefits from EBT cards, change your PIN number before and after every transaction and make sure to change it just before the beginning of a new month when new benefits load.
Use contactless payments – Select contactless payments, like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and chip cards, instead of using the magnetic stripe when you can.
Monitor your accounts frequently – Monitor your accounts frequently for unusual activity. Set up alerts and watch for anything that seems unusual. If you detect your information has been compromised, contact your financial institution immediately.

In addition to notifying a store manager and local or state police whenever the presence of a skimming device is suspected, consumers who become aware of any scam activity can report it to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection by filing a complaint online using “File A Complaint” tool at ct.gov/DCP.