NEWARK, Ohio — A 23-year-old man and a juvenile were arrested in Newark after being accused of installing and attempting to retrieve skimming devices at Save-A-Lot store in July.
The Newark Division of Police said store employees found a suspected skimming device during a routine inspection. Newark police detectives were able to obtain video of the suspects and were alerted when they returned to the store attempting to collect the device.
Officers located the two suspects and performed a traffic stop. During the stop, police say the suspects attempted to discard several skimming devices before stopping their vehicle. Officers waited until the two went back to the Save-A-Lot store to get the skimmer.
The adult suspect was identified as Ionut Iamandita.
“They came to the Newark, Ohio area to explicitly to install or retrieve this item,” said Newark Police Sergeant Clint Eskins. “We have been told they are most likely after the EBT cards because of the way the system reports things for fraud versus a private entity like a Discover [card].”
Newark police have gotten calls from dozens of other agencies in other states that are investigating to see if the suspects committed the same crimes in their area.
Eskins says this is a reminder to protect yourself against this type of theft.
“When you go to the ATM, to the gas pump, for a brief second look that point of sale over, where you are going to put your credit card into there and just take a look at it,” Eskins said.
Both suspects are facing several charges in Licking County and are being investigated for other similar crimes in other jurisdictions.
Here's how to spot one:
*Information provided by Capital One
Inspect the card reader
First, check to see if the card reader looks intact. Is there any piece of the machine that’s bulging, raised or out of alignment? Does it look like part of the machine is covering another part where it shouldn’t be? If so, that could be a sign that a skimmer was installed.
You can also try to feel around the card reader for a skimmer. If the machine feels like it’s coming apart in some places or like a piece of it isn’t sturdy or properly installed, that’s a sign that a skimmer could be in place.
There’s also a chance something is loose or out of alignment when you put your card in the reader. But by that time it could be too late to stop the scam. The FTC suggests trying to give the card reader a little wiggle before inserting your card. If it moves, you can report it to an employee and find a new option or place of business.
Check the security seal
At gas pumps, you can look for skimming devices by checking to see if there’s an intact security seal near the card reader. If the pump panel is open or has a broken seal, the FTC says the label will read void. That’s a sign that there might be a skimmer installed.
Compare with other gas pumps and machines
If you’re at a gas station, take a quick look at the other pumps around you to see if they look the same as yours. Do the card slot and keypad at your pump look about the same as the others? If not, or if anything looks like it’s bulging or out of place, that might be a sign of a skimmer.
When it comes to choosing a pump, the FBI suggests picking a pump that’s closer to the store or in direct view of the attendant. Those pumps are less likely to be targeted by fraudsters.