Credit Card Skimmer Found At Watsonville Bank, 2 Others In County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office detectives are working to identify a suspect after three credit card skimmers were found in the county, including in Watsonville.

Skimmers were found at Bank of America ATMs in Aptos, Felton and Watsonville. Skimmers can be installed into credit card readers in machines such as ATMs or gas station pumps, and are used to collect victims' credit card data.

Detectives believe the same person installed all three skimmers on Tuesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 831-454-7640.

Here are some tips from the sheriff's office on how to avoid falling victim to a skimmer scheme:

-Inspect ATMs, POS 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.
-Use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location, which are less vulnerable targets.
-Be alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, which are popular targets.
-Use debit and credit cards with chip technology. In the U.S., there are fewer devices that steal chip data versus magnetic strip data.
-Choose a fuel pump that is closer to the store and in direct view of the attendant. These pumps are less likely to be targets for skimmers.
-If using a debit card, cover the keypad when you enter your PIN.
-Consider paying inside with the attendant, not outside at the pump.