SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The San Luis Obispo Police Division recovered a bank card skimmer {that a} suspect positioned on a machine at a neighborhood 7-Eleven and is warning the general public to look out for bank card machines which will have been tampered with.

The division took a report of the skimmer discovered on the 7-Eleven retailer on Monterey Road after a clerk found that his safety tape went lacking and checked the in-store video to search out that the cardboard machine had been tampered with whereas he was away from the counter, in response to the police division.

Whereas the division has not obtained any follow-up experiences of shoppers who have been skimmed, patrol officers are engaged on figuring out the suspect.

Skimmers might be tough to identify, and the division urged the general public to make it possible for there are not any alignment points when utilizing financial institution or bank card machines.

“If the cardboard does not go easily via the reader, cease utilizing it & do not kind in a pin quantity. If the buttons are tough to push, do not use. All the time notify the cashier when you see one thing off,” the division mentioned in a tweet.

3/four When utilizing financial institution/bank card machines, be certain there aren’t alignment points. If the cardboard does not go easily via the reader, cease utilizing it & do not kind in a pin quantity. If the buttons are tough to push, do not use. All the time notify the cashier when you see one thing off.

— San Luis Obispo Police Division (@SLOCityPolice) July 26, 2022

The police division requested residents to remain vigilant and at all times notify a cashier if they believe any points with the machines. Different strategies to keep away from being skimmed are paying by money or utilizing Apple or Google Pay, the division mentioned.

Should you do get skimmed, work together with your financial institution or bank card firm as quickly as doable to cancel the playing cards after which notify the police.