WARNING: Skimmers Found at Two "Large Retailers" in Rochester, MN

If you've ever had your credit card number stolen, you know it is a huge headache. Heads up, it appears that someone is trying to do that in the Rochester, Minnesota area.

CAUTION: Skimmers have been found at two "large retailers" in Rochester, Minnesota

A few years ago, I got a phone call at some horrible time in the morning that woke me up. As I was wiping my eyes and trying to figure out who was talking on the other end of the phone, I started getting questioned about purchases that I had made on my credit card. Someone had gone on a little shopping spree in the middle of the night with my credit card and thankfully the company I use noticed that this was pretty unusual behavior for me. In this instance, I knew who stole my card. It was my waiter at a restaurant in Fargo. It was the only time I used this card.

Criminals tick me off. According to a Facebook post on the Rochester Police Department page, it seems like we have a few trying to rip us off right here in the Med City.

Canva/ThinkStock

RPD received a report of “skimmers” on self check-outs at two large retailers in Rochester earlier this week. Skimmers are attachments installed on card readers that collect debit and/or credit card numbers. Criminals place them on self check-outs, gas pumps and ATMs. They later recover the skimmers and use the information collected to make fraudulent purchases.

Skimmers can be tricky to spot, but it’s possible to identify them.

Here are some tips:
• Skimmers are often placed on top of the actual card reader, making them stick out. Compare the card reader with others that are nearby.
• Look at the card reader to and make sure it appears intact. Wiggle it, and see if anything is loose.
• Look for a security label or colored tape on the panel at gas pumps. The tape will indicate if the machine has been tampered with.
• Cover the keypad with your other hand when typing in your PIN just in case a camera has been installed.
The skimmers located this week were removed right away and no one appears to have been victimized.

Photo by Hanson Lu on Unsplash

Who Do You Think The "Large Retailers" Were in Rochester?

Quite a few people have been asking that the "large retailers" in the post be identified. As a consumer who shops in quite a few places, I think it would also be helpful if we knew where these were located. I know it indicated there were no victims...but I've been one before. I'd love to get a heads-up that I was shopping at a store where a skimmer was placed.

So, who do you think these "large retailers" were? I know some of you work at these locations. Be a friend and tell us if you know. You might save a bunch of us a big headache. If you have any insight, add it to the post below. Help everyone out and tell us what you know.