Police say credit card skimmers were found at Market Basket stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire

Police are urging grocery shoppers to monitor their bank accounts and report any suspicious activity after credit card skimmers were recently found at Market Basket stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The credit card skimmer was discovered at the checkout at Market Basket and Walmart on Storrs Street in Concord, New Hampshire, in October, according to the Concord Police Department.

Earlier this week, Concord Police shared surveillance images of suspects who allegedly installed skimming devices on point-of-sale card readers at stores.

The skimmer ring has since expanded to include at least four additional stores throughout the region.

Concord Police confirmed to Boston 25 News on Wednesday that credit card skimmers were also found at the following Market Basket stores:

• Nashua, New Hampshire (10/27/2023)

• Somerville, Massachusetts (10/27/2023)

• Reading, Massachusetts (10/26/23)

• Haverhill, Massachusetts (10/26/2023)

“Law enforcement agencies are investigating similar incidents throughout New England,” the department said in a statement. “Based on the functionality of the devices, the device obtains sensitive information from credit and debit cards and transfers it to a third party.”

Police warned shoppers that a “clear sign” with the skimmers involved is that the chip reader slot is “inoperable and appears” jammed, causing the customer to swipe the card so the magnetic reader can steal card information.

Police later read a surveillance photo showing two suspects, who they say placed a skimming device on a credit card machine at Market Basket in the city on October 26.

“Market Basket employees found the device the same day it was placed, and a review of the data by the store’s IT department indicates the device was located and removed before any sensitive data could be stolen,” Redding Police Chief David Clark said. In the current situation.

A review of surveillance video showed one suspect distracted a clerk while the other suspect placed a skimming device on the credit card machine, Clark said.

One of the suspects is described as a white or Hispanic man wearing a black hat, face mask, black jacket, white shirt, black jeans, and white shoes. The second suspect is described as a white or Hispanic man wearing a black hat, face mask, black jacket, black shirt, blue jeans, and black and white sneakers.

Police in Haverhill also announced Wednesday that two unidentified white men entered the store in the city on Oct. 26 and were seen on surveillance video tampering with a card reader at the register. It was later discovered that they had installed a card skimming device on the registration card reader.

In this case, Haverhill Police said both suspects were wearing masks and hats.

In a statement in response to the investigation, Market Basket told Boston 25 News that it is “not aware of any customer information being compromised” at this time.

“During a routine security audit conducted daily, members of our team at the Haverhill store located at 400 Lowell Avenue identified a suspicious device connected to one payment terminal. We then reviewed each of our locations,” said a spokesperson for the Tewksbury-based grocery chain. We found that a similar device had been placed in one station at our locations in Redding, Somerville, Concord and Nashua within a short time frame.” “We immediately contacted local authorities, as we learned that a number of these skimming devices had been discovered in other retail stores throughout our area. At this time, we are not aware that any customer information has been compromised and we will continue to monitor this situation closely. “We are also working with state and local authorities to help identify the individuals responsible.”

Security expert Mike Driscoll told me that the holidays are a busy time for scammers, who often work in teams.

“We often see organized crime groups going out en masse to set up these skimmers,” Driscoll said. “They’ll put 15 or 20 of them in one area at once, leave them in place for 24 to 48 hours, and then put them back together.”

Driscoll says there are four ways to protect yourself.

Anyone who believes they may have been affected or has information about possible suspects is urged to contact their local law enforcement agency.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates when more information is available.

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