Beaumont Police Warn About Bank Card Skimming

BEAUMONT, CA — Debit/credit card skimming — where thieves steal personal bank account and credit card information — is happening in Beaumont, police warned Wednesday.

Over the last few weeks, the Beaumont Police Department reported it has responded to several incidents involving nefarious skimming devices on ATM and/or payment terminals at businesses throughout the city.

"As criminals become more sophisticated, these types of reports continue to increase," the department said on social media. "We would like to remind our residents to be mindful of this type of crime. The devices are electronic and can either scan cards as they are entered into the terminals, or some also have tiny cameras that are able to pick up information off the card as it is entered. In a couple of cases, we have even determined the devices are communicating with the crooks in real-time through Bluetooth capabilities."

Large criminal networks can be involved in the illegal activity, making it difficult for officers to solve and prosecute, the department said.

"Many times, banks reimburse victims for fraudulent charges," the department continued, "but the losses to businesses and financial institutions can add up to hundreds of millions of dollars."

The Beaumont Police Department offered these tips to protect residents:

• Carefully inspecting ATM and debit/credit card terminals for any signs of tampering. Report any suspicious findings to the business immediately.
• Pay for items and services inside of businesses versus using outside payment kiosks.
• Regularly check your banking and credit card accounts for fraudulent activity and utilize your banking or credit card fraud alert programs or services to assist in securing your accounts.