Jane Garibay

There has been a significant uptick in credit, debit, and EBT card skimming scams throughout the country – as a result, the state is working to educate consumers and frontline workers on the signs of potential fraud.  There will also be an increase in police investigations into these crimes.  According to an analysis conducted earlier this year, the number of debit cards compromised in skimming crimes nearly doubled in 2023, impacting more than 315,000 cards and 3,500 financial institutions.

Make sure you project yourself when making a purchase. Before using a credit, debit, or EBT card, you should:

• Visually inspect the card reading device to see if something looks off or abnormal, such as sticky keys, an added bulk, or mismatched colors.
• Give the device a wiggle before using it to make sure it is intact.
• Inspect the card slot before inserting a card to see if it appears to be different or heavier than usual, or if any components seem loose or altered.

I encourage you to report suspected skimming devices or fraudulent purchases to store managers and law enforcement, and file a complaint with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection through ct.gov/DCP.