How to protect yourself from credit card skimmers

1 May 2024 · 2 min

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In a brief news segment, two hosts report that credit‑card skimmers were discovered at nine Roach Brothers restaurants across Massachusetts, with two more found the next morning, totaling eleven devices. The skimmers were installed in under 30 seconds by three suspects, likely linked to organized crime using 3D‑printed devices tailored to the chain’s point‑of‑sale terminals. The company quickly detected and removed the devices after the first find. Cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano advises consumers to use chip‑enabled cards—inserted or tapped—rather than swiping magnetic strips, noting that chips are far harder to clone. He also recommends monitoring bank statements for unauthorized activity. The segment emphasizes the speed and ease of skimmer installation and provides practical steps for personal protection.

Were found at 9 Roach Brothers locations in all last Wednesday and Thursday.
Roach Brothers is the latest chain to be targeted by skimmer thieves. The company says credit card skimmers were identified in 8 locations last Wednesday, including Wellesley, Watertown, Bridgewater, Westwood, Natick, Downtown Crossing, Sudbury, and Needham. 2 additional skimmers were discovered the following morning, April 25th, at the West Roxbury location. But the company says once it found the first device on Wednesday at its Wellesley Leslie store, it quickly detected and removed the others. It has become quick and easy to install these data theft devices. Watch this video from a Walmart in New York. 3 suspects attach a credit card skimmer to the point-of-sale device. The whole thing takes less than 30 seconds. The cashier never even notices. Cybersecurity experts say it is a sophisticated operation.
Organized crime is usually behind it, and they create 3D-printed skimming devices designed to work for this particular chain that chain and install these skimmers and wirelessly catch all that sensitive information.
Robert Siciliano says the best way to protect yourself is to use a chip card and insert or tap it. That chip is much harder to clone than a magnetic strip, so do not swipe, especially with a PIN code.
Swiping is bad. Anytime you swipe a card these days and punch in a PIN, that's where they drain your bank account.
Now Roche Brothers says it has received no reports of any data being compromised, but you know, the experts say skimming is so common you should always keep a close eye on your credit card and bank accounts.