There’s a new self-checkout scam to keep your eyes peeled for at major retailers like Walmart and Target. The Romanian mob is using Bluetooth technology and deceptive skimmers to prey on unsuspecting customers at self-checkout machines. Find all the details below.
Self-checkout card skimmer scam
According to Kimberly Edds, director of public affairs with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, these criminals strategically position themselves outside of stores, often disguising their activities as panhandling or accompanied by children to evade suspicion, the New York Post reports. Meanwhile, inside the stores, inconspicuous skimmers that look just like legitimate card scanners are discreetly installed over the credit card swipe areas. These skimmers harvest personal information from shoppers who swipe their cards.
Edds shed light on the intricacies of this operation. "They are actually using Bluetooth technology that’s connected to the skimmers inside the stores," she explained to the New York Post. "So it’s like a two-for-one, getting cash that people give them and stealing the numbers of the skimmers."
The scope of this endeavor is alarming. Dozens of suspects affiliated with organized crime have been caught committing this scam in California alone. "Thousands of criminals suspected to be tied to organized Romanian crime have been identified to be in the United States," Edds says.
The repercussions extend beyond individual shoppers and encompass the broader welfare system. EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards, intended to assist vulnerable populations, have also become targets of exploitation. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer's office told the Post that accounts were drained shortly after the state disbursed monthly payments, leaving recipients in dire straits.
The magnitude of the losses incurred is staggering, with over $100 million siphoned from taxpayer-funded welfare programs, according to reports from the New York Post.
Spitzer lamented the dire consequences, emphasizing the impact on vulnerable demographics. "The victims are single mothers struggling to put a roof over their children’s heads and food on the table and hardworking people who need a helping hand who find themselves standing at the checkout line with bags full of groceries only to be humiliated when they find that they have no money in their account because a thief has surreptitiously taken everything," he said.
Additionally, food stamps are bartered for high-demand items like baby formula and energy drinks, which are subsequently trafficked and resold in Mexico.
In December, the FBI joined forces with Romanian authorities to execute coordinated raids targeting locations linked to the California skimming syndicate. These efforts resulted in in 48 arrests and the recovery of $1 million.
Many of the suspects had ties to Mexico’s Riviera Maya gang. This gang has been linked to millions of dollars in skimming thefts in locations like Tulum and Cancun. Florian Tudor, a key figure in the operation, awaits trial on fraud charges in Mexico and is wanted for attempted murder in Romania.
Simple precautions, such as inspecting card readers for signs of tampering and monitoring financial transactions for irregularities, can help thwart this theft. Warning signs include a jammed or wobbly slot on a card chip reader. You may try tugging on a swipe before inserting your card; Police say that if it's wobbly or easily removed, it's fake.
This isn't the only grocery checkout scam to be aware of. Other common practices include individuals scanning gift cards that unsuspecting shoppers pay the price for and cashiers taking cashback money. By remaining vigilant and informed, shoppers can safeguard themselves.
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