Secret Service Working With Bel Air Police To Track Down Skimmers

BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Police Department has teamed up with the U.S. Secret Service to track down and remove illegal skimming devices, which they hope will help prevent millions in potential fraud.

"This effort supports our ongoing retail theft initiative to protect local businesses and our community," the police department stated. "We won’t be releasing specific business locations. Doing so could compromise active investigations, and these businesses are victims in these crimes, not participants. We also don’t want to hurt responsible retailers who cooperated and helped stop the fraud. What’s important is that the devices were removed and investigations are moving forward."

The Bel Air Police Department recommended people take the following steps to protect themselves:

• Check for loose or bulky card readers. Skimmers often sit on top of real ones.
• Give the card slot a quick wiggle. Legitimate machines are firmly attached.
• Look for misaligned graphics, keypads or mismatched colors.
• Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Hidden cameras and keypad overlays are common.
• Use chip or tap when available.
• Monitor your accounts regularly and report suspicious activity immediately.

"If something looks or feels off, don’t use it. Notify the business or law enforcement right away," the police department stated.