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.
Officials said safer payment options include contactless “tap to pay” transactions, which generate unique codes that cannot be reused by skimmers, as well as mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, which add additional layers of security. Consumers are also encouraged to use credit cards instead of debit cards when possible to limit potential losses.
Anyone who suspects their card information has been compromised should contact their bank immediately using the phone number on the back of their card, monitor their accounts closely, and report the incident to local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, authorities said.
Businesses interested in having their payment terminals checked for skimming devices are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit at 908-788-1299.
Officials urged residents and business owners to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to help protect the community from fraud.
