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Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Tuesday March 6th, 2018 :: 09:45 a.m. PST

Community

Credit Card Skimmer/ Crime Prevention

 
Nature of Incident: Credit Card Skimmers/Crime Prevention
Location: Camarillo, CA
Date & Time: March 6, 2018
Unit(s) Responsible: Community Resource Unit
Narrative:
Credit card skimmer fraud is back! Be on alert! As our crime prevention officers like to say, “Arm yourself with knowledge!”
 
Last year, Camarillo Police arrested four suspects responsible for placing credit card skimmers in gas station pumps.  This crew worked in conjunction with a larger crime ring that was responsible for over $90,000 in credit card fraud using the information from the skimmers.  This arrest stopped hundreds of more crimes from happening. 
 
Unfortunately, crime rings exist all over the country and even the world.  Therefore, it is up to us to, “Arm ourselves with knowledge” so we can be prepared at any time for any type of crime.  The great news is…this is an easy learning lesson.  So, what should you do?
 
  1. Be Alert. When you gas up make sure the panel is closed and doesn’t show signs of tampering.  Many stations now put security seals over the cabinet panel.  If the panel has been opened, the label will read “void”, which means the machine has been tampered with.
 2. If you see something wrong, SAY SOMETHING.  At the very least notify the gas station manager, or call the                      police department and we will have an officer come out and check the pump for you.  
  1. If you use a debit card at the pump, run it as credit instead of entering a PIN.  If that is not an option, cover your hand when entering your PIN.  Scammers often use pinhole cameras located above the key pad to record your numbers.
 
  1. MONITOR your credit card and bank accounts regularly.  In this day and age of online banking, this should be a daily task.
 
  1. If you are really concerned about skimmers, pay inside the store. 
 
 
The Camarillo Police Department would like the community to know that we have an anti 'skimmer' program in place and regularly check credit card devices throughout the city. If you notice something strange about a device you are using, contact Police Dispatch immediately at 805-654-9511.
 
 
Prepared by: Sergeant Julie Novak, Community Resource Unit  
News Release Date: March 6, 2018  
Media Follow-Up Contact: Senior Deputy Shawn Holzberger, 805-279-0490 [email protected]
 		  
Approved by: Captain J. Paris  
       
 
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
 

Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511

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