WASHINGTON — Police are asking for the public's help in finding two people they say placed card skimmers at several businesses across D.C.
Card skimmers are devices that masquerade as card readers where customers will swipe or insert their credit or debit cards to pay for their purchases.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the card skimmers were found at the following locations:
- On Monday, March 25, 2024, at approximately 11:27 a.m., in the 1200 block of 1st Street, Northeast.
- On Monday, April 1, 2024, at approximately 11:13 a.m., in the 400 block of M Street, Southeast.
- On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at approximately 9:39 p.m., in the 1800 block of Wisconsin Avenue, Northwest.
- On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at approximately 10:25 p.m., in the 4500 block of 40th Street, Northwest.
- On Friday, April 12, 2024, at approximately 9:54 a.m., in the 1700 block of Corcoran Street, Northwest.
- On Tuesday, April 16, at 7 p.m., in the 3400 block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest.
WUSA9 spoke with a Safeway customer who said he found one of the skimming devices while using the self-checkout.
“The keypad was very clearly new and that clued me in immediately," said John Perry-Miller. “I told him, ‘You’ve got a skimmer.’ And he was very nice and said, ‘No, I don’t think it’s a skimmer.’ And I said, ‘No! I think you have a skimmer.' I’m like pulling it and then we pull it off together and he’s shocked."
Police released photos of the pair they say are responsible for the skimming devices.
Anyone who recognizes the suspects is asked to contact detectives at (202) 727-9099 or text the department's tip line at 50411.
MPD says there are several ways you can protect yourself from card-skimming devices, including:
- Make sure the device isn’t able to be moved or budges when touched.
- Compare your machine to the one next to you, if applicable.
- Check the alignment of the card reader and the panel underneath it.
- Look inside of the card reader before inserting your card.
- If you see or suspect a card skimmer, please contact police immediately at 911.
- Notify your bank immediately if you suspect you have been a victim of card skimming.
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