Overview of Credit Card Skimming Devices
The Boston Police Department is alerting the public about the ongoing threat of ATM and Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal skimming. These crimes involve criminal groups installing hidden electronic devices on ATMs and payment terminals to steal card information. Skimming incidents are common at pharmacies, gas stations, and grocery stores.
On Thursday, August 13, 2026, Boston Police officers from District D-14 (Allston/Brighton) responded to a report of a skimming device at an ATM located inside the 7-Eleven at 241 Market Street, Brighton. The skimming device was located while the ATM machine was serviced.
How Skimming Works
Criminals install hidden devices inside ATM card reader slots that capture the data stored on a card’s magnetic stripe or chip. These devices are often impossible to detect from the outside of the machine. Criminals may also attach small “pinhole cameras” to ATMs to record cardholders entering their PINs. The camera lens can be as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen, making it easy to conceal.
At checkout terminals, criminals use plastic overlay devices designed to look identical to the top of a POS terminal. These overlays capture card data and PIN entries. Stolen card data may be re-encoded onto other cards and used for unauthorized withdrawals or purchases, or sold to other criminal groups.
Warning Signs of a Skimming Device
- The card slot feels tighter than usual when inserting your card
- A panel or component appears to be made of a different material than the rest of the machine
- A small hole is visible near the keypad or card reader area
- Store or manufacturer decals are missing or appear to have been removed
- Broken lights, a raised PIN pad, or loose components are present
- Stickers are placed in unusual locations on the machine
Tips to Protect Yourself
- Use ATMs located inside financial institutions, near security cameras, or at drive-up windows, as these are harder targets.
- Shield your PIN entry with your hand when using any ATM or payment terminal.
- Consider using a credit card instead of a debit card to avoid exposing your PIN and giving criminals direct access to your checking account.
- When possible, use contactless payment or chip-enabled cards. Cards without chip technology, including Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, are especially vulnerable.
- Sign up for text or email alerts from your bank or card issuer to monitor for unauthorized transactions.
- If any part of a POS terminal feels loose, do not use it and notify the merchant immediately.
What to Do If You Suspect Skimming
If you are an individual cardholder and believe your card information has been compromised, contact your card issuer’s fraud department immediately to report the incident, deactivate the card, and request a replacement with a new PIN. Monitor your accounts closely for unauthorized activity.
If you are a business owner or employee and discover a suspicious device on an ATM or POS terminal, take the terminal out of service immediately and contact your company’s security or loss prevention department. Do not attempt to remove the device. Contact police so the device can be properly collected as evidence.
How to Report
File a report with your local Boston Police district station. Find your local station here
Community members wishing to provide information anonymously may do so via the CrimeStoppers Tip Line:
📞 1-800-494-TIPS (8477)
💬 Text the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463)
🌐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.