HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. — Detectives from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, working alongside officers from the Lambertville, Clinton Township and Flemington Borough police departments, conducted proactive inspections of payment terminals at local businesses last week as part of an effort to prevent credit card skimming and other forms of financial fraud.
Authorities said the inspections focused on identifying skimming devices, which are hidden tools criminals use to steal credit and debit card information during legitimate transactions. Such devices are commonly placed on gas pumps, ATMs and point-of-sale terminals.
Law enforcement officials encouraged consumers to remain alert when using payment terminals. Signs of possible tampering include broken or altered security seals on gas pumps, misaligned or loose parts on card readers, and terminals that appear damaged or require cards to be swiped rather than inserted or tapped. Shoppers are also advised to shield their PIN when entering it and to use ATMs located inside bank branches instead of freestanding machines…