Residents share how they defend against card skimming

Card skimming is a frustrating problem for consumers on the Central Coast as newer technology makes it easier for thieves to get your money.

“It’s not a question of if, it’s when it’s going to happen to you because it’s just so prevalent,” said Matt Deaux, a Sacramento County detective.

“It just gets easier and easier to get money in dangerous ways, you know,” said Elia Ruiz, a Salinas resident.

Card skimmers were recently found on a bank ATM in Santa Cruz, and police think there are more skimmers still out there. The biggest concern is that these tools for theft are getting harder to spot.

“They basically designed it so it blends in with the ATM,” said Deaux.

The one thing you can do every time you walk up to an ATM is simply pull the card insert slot to see if it comes out.

“So right now actually, I deposited a check and I checked,” said Ruiz. “Because you got to be cautious and I don’t want to get scammed right now, just trying to save a lot of money.”

And skimmers can be lucrative for thieves, who are able to steal sometimes up to $60,000 in a weekend. But they are not the only way your money can be compromised.

“I guess that you do have to have some trust when you leave your card to the employee or just sliding your card,” said Michelle Bonilla, a Salinas resident. “I do check the bank account statements.”

“I actually get a lot of calls from the bank saying if I have any frauds happening. You got to make sure that everything you have is there,” said Ruiz.

Police are asking for your help spotting these skimmers. They are also asking businesses to check their equipment frequently.