Mike Mozart
Citizens should beware of the terminals used before swiping or inserting their cards.
In Georgia, citizens should be aware as scammers are popularizing the use of fraudulent Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) devices to steal credit card information. These devices, known as skimmers, are attached by criminals onto card readers with the goal of storing data such as card numbers and PINs to electronically download later. They have been spotted in cities all over the state since the beginning of 2025.
According to the U.S. Secret Service media relations, it is estimated more than a billion dollars is lost a year due to EBT skimming. Each time one of these devices is discovered, up to $300,000 is saved in fraud.
Where can devices like these be found? Most often, they are placed on top of ATMs, gas pumps and point-of-sale terminals. Due to their appearance as a normal terminal, skimmers can be hard to spot if someone is not paying attention.
Here are some tips on how to spot them.
Size is one of the easiest indicators to pick up on; the bulkier the sides of the reader are, the worse. Many of these scanners must mask the actual device underneath by being slightly larger than normal around the corners.
The keypad can often be a giveaway as well. If you feel too much air space when clicking down on the buttons rather than a firm click, it is probably a placed keypad. These are used to acquire hand patterns for your PIN. Anytime the device is too loose, or part of the card reader starts falling off, it is probably not supposed to be on there in the first place.
Look to notice any kind of patterns that may be off, such as color and shape matching up from the top to the bottom of the machine. Often, these scammers can place pinhole cameras in various places, so be sure to cover up the keypad when typing in a PIN.
If someone is suspicious of a skimmer at a gas pump, simply pay inside. Inside a store, if a terminal is making someone feel suspicious, tell employees or call law enforcement. Financial transaction card fraud of more than $100 is a felony in the state of Georgia.
“A week ago, a skimmer was used on my credit card without me noticing. They charged my card four times before I was alerted to a $300 payment at a Walmart in Lawrenceville that I did not make. The card has since been cancelled, but it was an awful experience. Make sure to pay attention when you swipe your card.” – Kameron Hunter, skimmer fraud victim and former UNG student
Paying in cash or using tap methods on cards can help avoid these scams altogether.