Consumers are facing renewed calls for vigilance when making purchases with credit or debit cards at retail locations, following reports of card skimming devices discovered at multiple Walmart stores.
The discovery of these malicious devices has occurred across several areas, including specific Walmart locations in Lynchburg, Amherst County, and Bedford in Central Virginia, as well as in West Gastonia, North Carolina. Authorities are investigating these incidents where devices designed to steal sensitive card information were found on payment terminals.
In Central Virginia, law enforcement agencies including the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office and the Lynchburg Police Department have been actively investigating a series of card skimming attacks. Officials reported uncovering several devices used in the scam at various locations, including Wards Road in Lynchburg and Madison Heights in Amherst County. One individual, Florin Doroiman, a Romanian national, has been arrested in connection with incidents in Central Virginia, facing charges in Bedford, Lynchburg, and Amherst County.
Bedford police found a skimmer at the Walmart on Lynchburg Salem Turnpike and plan to charge Doroiman with ten felony counts of credit card theft and a misdemeanor for possessing the device. Each felony charge could result in up to 20 years in prison. In Lynchburg, police found a skimmer on a register at the Wards Road Walmart during a routine morning check. Kisha Burton, a customer there around the time, noticed issues with self-checkout and was assisted by a clerk, later monitoring her account after hearing the news.
The Amherst County Sheriff’s Office located a skimmer at the Walmart in Madison Heights and suspects EBT cards may have been compromised. They have charged Doroiman with a misdemeanor for installing that device. Tammy, a Lynchburg resident, reported her EBT balance being wiped out after shopping at the Madison Heights store, stating, “I had about $400 worth of groceries, walked up to the register to scan my card, and they told me I had 24 cents on my food stamp card.
Authorities explained that these scanner devices are placed on top of the existing card reader or payment terminal to steal transaction data. Lieutenant Greg Jones of the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office described how culprits operate, saying, “These are individuals that come in from out of town, other states. They travel through cities and areas and install the devices and then leave and go on to another location.” He added, “It’s kind of like popping a cover on top of the existing card reader.
Law enforcement partners, often loss prevention personnel, frequently uncover these devices because, as Katie Jennings, a crime prevention specialist with the Lynchburg Police Department shared, they may notice the readers are “a little discolored, they might be a little thicker, they might look a little bit different.” Citizens are also finding them. She advises shoppers to compare card readers at checkout, and if one looks different or doesn’t feel right, alert a sales associate.
Officials and experts strongly urge customers to be highly vigilant during non-cash transactions. Lieutenant Jones reiterated the need to “be really alert and pay attention to the card reader that you’re using, see if it’s been tampered with.” Experts like Ted Rossman of Bankrate and Juliana O’Rork of the Better Business Bureau recommend using chip payments or contactless options like tap-to-pay or mobile wallets if available, as swiping leaves cardholders more vulnerable.
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Julie Wheeler, president of the Better Business Bureau serving Western Virginia, emphasized, “Pay attention to where you’re putting your card, and if you have a card that has tap technology, use that.” She noted that while chips offered protection, technology evolves, and “tapping or contactless is the way to go if you can do that.” Customers should also consider signing up for automatic transaction alerts from their banks.
The problem isn’t limited to just Walmart. Authorities and experts warn that card skimming devices can potentially be found at other stores, gas stations, ATMs, and any vendor using card payment terminals. Customers who shopped at the affected Walmart locations on February 25 or 26 are specifically advised to check their bank statements for any unusual activity.
Walmart stated it “works hard to keep our customers safe from scammers and other criminals seeking to harm our customers” and that its anti-fraud program is effective but continuously evolves to counter changing tactics. As criminals employ sophisticated technology, including Bluetooth skimmers transmitting data in real time as found in Gastonia, NC, the shared responsibility falls on both retailers and shoppers to stay alert to protect personal financial information.
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