A small red sticker has appeared on some Walmart self-checkout machines, sparking curiosity and online discussions among shoppers who suspect it’s a move by the store to combat machine tampering.
It turns out retailers across the country have been grappling with the tricky issue of skimming devices being secretly planted at payment terminals. These sneaky tools are designed to steal sensitive credit and debit card information, often without shoppers even realizing it’s happening. Cops have been unearthing these devices during inspections of self-checkout machines at various grocery stores, highlighting a widespread concern.
An image circulating among Redditors showed this distinctive red tape partially covering a screen on a self-checkout machine, marked with a serial number. Naturally, the immediate question popped up: “What is this red tape on card readers?” The internet quickly got to work, with scores of social media users weighing in to explain the purpose of this curious red label.
Many shoppers were quick to offer their insights, stating that the label is specifically there to help prevent card skimmers and other forms of tampering. The prevailing theory, widely supported by customer observations, is that this label serves as a visual indicator. If the seal is broken or removed, it signals that the machine may have been tampered with, prompting staff to inspect it thoroughly.
Customers noted how this simple label could significantly aid workers in their efforts to keep the machines secure. As one customer helpfully flagged, “If they take it off, that means the pin pad needs to be checked for tampering and the seal replaced.” It’s a smart, low-tech approach to help spot potential issues before they impact shoppers.
However, not everyone agrees on the placement of this new security feature. Some shoppers have suggested that the sticker would be more effective if it were placed covering the PIN keypad itself, as this is a prime target for tampering devices designed to capture PINs alongside card details.
Understanding the threat is the first step in protecting yourself. So, what exactly is a skimmer device? Imagine it as a fraud tool specifically engineered to steal sensitive information from your credit or debit cards during a transaction. These devices are like tiny, hidden spies placed on ATMs or card machines. Their sole purpose is to secretly copy your card details, including your card number and PIN, without you having any idea it’s happening.
Skimmers can be incredibly sophisticated and cleverly disguised to look just like the legitimate card reader, making them incredibly difficult to spot with the naked eye. They can even be paper-thin. Once the criminals have your information, they can use it to create fake cards or make unauthorized purchases, leading to significant financial trouble and stress for victims.
Across the nation, police are sounding the alarm about these skimming devices, with self-checkout keypads being particularly vulnerable; for example, ABC affiliate WSET-TV reported skimming devices were found at several Virginia Walmarts just last month.
Greg Jones, from the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, emphasized the importance of customer vigilance. He urged everyone to be cautious, stating, “You’ve got to be really alert and pay attention to the card reader that you’re using; see if it’s been tampered with.” These aren’t isolated incidents; in March, skimmers were also reported at three different Walmart locations in Pennsylvania, where cops revealed the devices had been placed at the top of the PIN pad. A 20-year-old man, Marcus Covaci, was reportedly hit with charges after allegedly attaching devices to card readers there.
It’s not just limited to Walmart self-checkouts, though they are frequent targets. Skimmers have been found at various businesses with digital payment services, including gas stations. Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate, noted that self-checkouts and gas stations are more common spots because “it’s harder to put one of these in under the cashier’s nose. It’s easier to do it at a poorly lit gas station where nobody is there in the middle of the night.”
A credit card skimmer was specifically found in a self-checkout area at a Walmart in west Gastonia, according to Gastonia police, and skimmers were found at a total of five businesses in that area. Police noted in a social media post that skimmers can digitally read cards and PINs and then transfer the data in real time to a scammer.
Protecting yourself is absolutely vital in today’s digital world. The FBI and other experts have offered clear tips for shoppers and drivers to avoid falling victim to these scams. One of the most effective methods is simply paying inside the facility when getting fuel or choosing a fuel pump that is closer to the store building.
Experts explain how skimmers often work: “A fraudster places a fake but real-looking payment terminal over the real payment terminal. So new plastic that basically appears the same.” This fake terminal can trick the real one into thinking you don’t have a chip card, prompting you to use the less secure magnetic stripe instead, which the skimmer can read. Rossman’s key tip-off for spotting one? If something doesn’t fit right. The skimmer is a plastic piece that fits over the real payment terminal. If something appears loose, that could be the real warning sign.” However, he honestly admits that often people don’t notice in the moment.
This is precisely why contactless payment is your ultimate safeguard! Both law enforcement and industry experts highly advocate for using tap-to-pay with your card or phone whenever feasible, a recommendation echoed by Juliana O’Rork, VP of marketing, communications, and business development for the Better Business Bureau of the Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina, who stated, ‘The best recommendation we can give is using tap to pay moving forward.’ Tapping to pay bypasses the potentially compromised magnetic stripe reader and even the chip slot, where a ‘shimmer’—a paper-thin device designed for chip cards—could be hidden.
Shimming is a sophisticated scam targeting chip cards, similar to skimmers but specifically designed to steal data from chip-enabled cards, and is so incredibly thin you’d likely never know it’s there, making tap-to-pay an even more crucial defense.
Another critical layer of defense is how you pay. Ted Rossman of Bankrate highly recommends using credit cards over debit cards for transactions where skimming is a risk. He explains the significant difference in fraud protection: “If a credit card number is stolen, then someone makes an unauthorized purchase. It’s easy to get that wiped off. It’s basically the bank’s money up until you pay them back. It’s not real money missing from your checking account.”
While debit cards do offer fraud protection, the process can be more complex, with shorter reporting windows, and more importantly, the money stolen is actual cash that disappears from your account for days or even weeks, potentially leaving you unable to cover essential expenses like bills until the bank resolves the issue.
Experts uniformly stress the importance of regularly checking your bank and credit card statements. Catching fraudulent transactions quickly is key to limiting damage and making the recovery process smoother. Reviewing your statements frequently is a vital protective step.
So, the next time you’re at a self-checkout or payment terminal, take a quick moment to look before you pay. Wiggle the card reader lightly to see if it feels loose. Choose contactless payment whenever possible—it’s fast and significantly reduces your risk. Opt for a credit card if tapping isn’t an option. And make checking your statements a regular habit. By staying informed and taking these simple precautions, you can significantly increase your protection against these hidden thieves and ensure your shopping experience stays safe and secure.
