GRAND JUNCTION (KJCT) -- The Grand Junction Police Department announced is investigating 40 cases of card "skimming".
"Skimming" is a crime in which a thief uses a small, portable card reader to swipe the magnetic strip on a victim's card and steal that person's credit or debit card information.
According to police, since February over $150,000 has been stolen from 40 victims in skimming incidents in Grand Junction.
The cards information was stolen from the victims after they were presented to a business(s) for a valid transaction.
Police say the suspects then made counterfeit cards and made fraudulent purchases using the victims account. The average amount stolen per transaction was $2,000.
There are steps people can take to protect themselves from this type of crime, as well as from other types of financial crimes.
- Know where your debit and credit cards are at all time
- When using your debit or credit card, don't let it out of your sight.
- Keep all transaction records and compare them to your financial statements.
- Immediately report any errors or unauthorized transfers on your statement to your bank or financial institution, as well as local law enforcement.
- Choose a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is different from your address, phone number, Social Security number, or birth date.
- Do not keep your PIN in your purse or wallet with the card.
- Report lost or stolen checks, credit cards, ATM or debit cards immediately.
- Consider utilizing your financial institution's online account access to be able to view bank statements and transactions anytime online.
- Always log out after Internet banking sessions, particularly if using a shared computer.
Source: http://kjct8.com
