The Boston Police Department is sharing updated information regarding credit card skimming devices following a recent incident in Brighton.
Recent ATM Skimming Incident in Brighton
At about 7:09 PM on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, officers assigned to District D-14 (Brighton/Allston) responded to a call for an investigation at a convenience store located on Market Street. Upon arrival, a technician servicing the store’s ATM reported locating an unauthorized electronic chip inside the machine. Detectives responded, documented the scene, and secured the device as evidence.
This incident remains under active investigation and serves as a reminder of the methods criminals use to obtain financial information from unsuspecting victims.
Overview of Credit Card Skimming Devices
The Boston Police Department is aware of a recent increase in the use of credit card skimming devices across the state of Massachusetts. Skimming occurs when criminals install illegal devices on Automated Teller Machines or Point of Sale terminals to steal card information. These devices are often found at pharmacies, gas stations, grocery stores, and other high traffic locations.
Skimming devices can be concealed inside or over ATM card readers, capturing information from a card’s magnetic stripe or chip. Offenders may also install pinhole cameras to record PIN entries. At Point of Sale terminals, criminals sometimes place plastic overlays over the keypad or card reader to gather data without being detected.
Protect Yourself Against Skimming
• Use ATMs located inside financial institutions or near visible security cameras, as they are less likely to be targeted.
• Inspect ATMs for loose parts, raised PIN pads, broken lights, or anything that appears unusual before inserting your card.
• Always shield your PIN while entering it to prevent hidden cameras from capturing your information.
• Check Point of Sale devices for loose or misaligned components. If something appears out of place, avoid the terminal and notify a staff member.
• Whenever possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card to limit access to your checking account.
• Sign up for text or email alerts to monitor your card usage and quickly detect any unauthorized transactions.
• Consider using contactless payment options or EMV chip cards, which provide an added layer of security. This is especially recommended for cards like EBT that are more susceptible to criminal targeting.
If You Believe You Are a Victim
• Immediately contact your card issuer’s fraud department to report any suspicious activity.
• Deactivate the compromised card and request a replacement with a new PIN.
• Closely monitor your account activity following the incident.
• If you experience financial loss, file a fraud affidavit with your card issuer and notify your local law enforcement agency.
• Report skimming incidents to local police and to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
Detectives assigned to District D-14 are actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact District D-14 Detectives at (617) 343-4256.
Community members wishing to provide information anonymously may do so via the CrimeStoppers Tip Line:
By Phone: 1-800-494-TIPS
By Text: Text the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463)
Online: Submit a tip via Boston Police CrimeStoppers
Photos and videos related to this investigation may also be submitted anonymously. The Boston Police Department will strictly safeguard the identities of those who wish to provide information confidentially.