FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
A scam alert warning: a team of thieves is targeting your money here in the Valley, and you could be a victim every time you use your debit or credit card.
It's called skimming, when someone uses a device to read your credit or debit card's magnetic strip, without you knowing it.
Law enforcement is seeing an increasing number of victims in the Valley.
It's happening so often in the Valley, the Better Business Bureau of Central California has put out a consumer alert.
Even our own KMPH News Web Producer, Juan Flores had his credit card information stolen not once but twice.
Juan Flores says, "First time was a couple of hundred bucks, in the Midwest at a pharmacy. Second time was about 500 bucks at a truck stop in Canada."
Many times thieves make a mold of the card reader, and can not match the color of the existing device.
So examine the ATM you are using carefully.
Best advice, use cash as often as possible.
If you have to use plastic, always choose the credit card option.
Credit cards are often covered by zero liability programs.
If you use a debit card, the money is taken directly out of your account, and may not be replaceable.
Experts say gas station pumps may be the most vulnerable to skimming because they are largely automated and often unattended, giving criminals plenty of opportunity to place skimming devices over existing card readers.
