Chartiers police seek suspects who skimmed card information
Police are looking for suspects accused of obtaining credit or debit card information from two Chartiers Township residents and using the information to make fraudulent purchases.
Police are looking for suspects accused of obtaining credit or debit card information from two Chartiers Township residents.
Police are looking for suspects accused of obtaining credit or debit card information from two Chartiers Township residents and using the information to make fraudulent purchases.
Chartiers Township police are working with a federal task force trying to identify suspects accused of obtaining credit or debit card information from two residents and using the information to make purchases.
Police Sgt. Michael Filosi said that two men used information from a debit card to make a purchase at Walgreen’s in Moon Township while a group of women used the card at Walmart in Greensburg.
The residents who had their information used still had possession of their respective cards when the purchases were made earlier this year, Filosi said. The information was likely “skimmed” when the cards were used at a local business.
The detective has been working with U.S. postal inspectors who are part of the federal task force that also includes the U.S. attorney’s office. They are investigating complaints from residents who have had their information “skimmed.”
“There are different ways it is done,” Filosi said. “Most of it happens when a skimmer is put into where you would place your credit card to make a purchase. They come back later and retrieve the skimmer with the information.”
If a personal identification number is used, he said that information can also be retrieved.
“The best way to protect yourself is to use cash,” Filosi said. “But watch the machines you use. Some gas stations stick red tape on the machines, indicating it has not been tampered with.”
Anyone who might recognize the suspects is asked to call township police at 724-745-8030, ext. 215.