Credit Card Skimmer Found At Walpole Convenience Store

BOSTON (CBS) - Police in Walpole are the latest to report cases of skimming in their community.

An ATM machine at a local Cumberland Farms was found to be equipped with a fake credit card cover pressed over the credit card reader, and a tiny mounted camera that catches consumers punching in their PIN's.

"You literally can take two seconds to put this on and walk away," said Walpole Deputy Police Chief Chris MacKenzie.

Consumers like Susan Masters, who was getting money from a Walpole ATM, admits it's usually a quick transaction with little notice of the machines. "I am concerned because we work hard for our money," Masters said.

Police believe the so-called "skimming" incident is related to a similar one in Attleboro and have surveillance photos of a man and woman they believe may be responsible.

Police say it's not only ATM machines that are being equipped with the illegal devices but also credit card readers at gas pumps.

In Westwood, two gas stations were targeted while similar incidents have also been reported in Hingham, Bridgewater and Bedford.

Westwood police chief Jeffrey Silva says a small strip that retrieves data is plugged into the back of the readers at the pumps.

"This is something that can be rapidly deployed with low risk. The benefit is the opportunity to obtain large amounts of people's data and use it wherever they want to," said Chief Silva.

Police say the crime is prevalent enough in the area that consumers should be on the lookout, in particular for any loose fitting credit card cover that seems out of place.

Police believe there's connections to the cases, and since it is quick and easy, they expect skimming will only increase.