WASHINGTON — DC Police say they have found another credit card skimmer device at a 7-Eleven in Northwest D.C. This comes after multiple reports of other skimmers found at grocery stores around the District.
Police are still investigating this newest incident, but have confirmed the suspects wanted for the Safeway skimmers are behind the 7-Eleven skimmers. Police said the skimmer was found around 7 p.m. at the store located at 3433 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Police believe the suspects they are still searching for have been putting the skimming devices at credit card terminals in multiple grocery stores throughout D.C. Police believe those suspects are responsible for scheming five different stores dating back to March 25.
Card skimmers were found at the following locations:
- On Monday, March 25, 2024, at approximately 11:27 a.m., in the 1200 block of 1st Street, Northeast.
- On Monday, April 1, 2024, at approximately 11:13 a.m., in the 400 block of M Street, Southeast.
- On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at approximately 9:39 p.m., in the 1800 block of Wisconsin Avenue, Northwest.
- On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at approximately 10:25 p.m., in the 4500 block of 40th Street, Northwest.
- On Friday, April 12, 2024, at approximately 9:54 a.m., in the 1700 block of Corcoran Street, Northwest.
WUSA9 spoke with a Safeway customer who said he found one of the skimming devices while using the self-checkout.
“The keypad was very clearly new and that clued me in immediately," said John Perry-Miller. “I told him, ‘You’ve got a skimmer.’ And he was very nice and said, ‘No, I don’t think it’s a skimmer.’ And I said, ‘No! I think you have a skimmer.' I’m like pulling it and then we pull it off together and he’s shocked."
MPD says there are several ways you can protect yourself from card-skimming devices, including:
- Make sure the device isn’t able to be moved or budges when touched.
- Compare your machine to the one next to you, if applicable.
- Check the alignment of the card reader and the panel underneath it.
- Look inside of the card reader before inserting your card.
- If you see or suspect a card skimmer, please contact police immediately at 911.
- Notify your bank immediately if you suspect you have been a victim of card skimming.
Police ask anyone who may have more information about any of these cases to contact them at 202-727-9099 or text the department's tip line at 50411.