CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — A photo of the skimmer the MPD identified and removed from a gas pump at the Casey's on West Lincoln Way.

The Marshalltown Police Department has successfully located and removed a credit card skimming device from a gas pump at the Casey’s General Store on Lincoln Way while an investigation into the matter continues, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

On Monday, Dec. 23, a credit card fraud investigation began after an initial report was taken, a credit card skimming device was suspected as being involved in this crime. As of Tuesday, the police department has heard from at least a dozen victims who have reported credit card fraud. Since Dec. 23, law enforcement personnel have been searching for the precise location of the credit card skimming device. On Dec. 31, a credit card skimming device was successfully recovered from a gas pump located at the aforementioned Casey’s.

The skimming device was well hidden in the gasoline pump. Law enforcement personnel, and Casey’s technicians, had searched this particular gasoline pump multiple times prior to the successful recovery of the device.

“Credit card skimming devices are oftentimes difficult to spot,” the press release read.

The investigation of the crimes is continuing. The police department does believe all of the credit card frauds reported so far are related to the single skimming device.

Two out of state suspects have been identified, and law enforcement is working to locate these individuals. Evidence suggests that other communities in Iowa have also been targeted by the same suspects.

Anyone who has been a victim of credit card fraud is encouraged to report these crimes to law enforcement immediately — in Marshalltown, the 24/7 phone number is 641.754.5725. The MPD also recommends reporting these crimes to your bank or credit card company.

On Dec. 23 and Dec. 30, the Marshalltown Police Department shared information on social media about credit card fraud and steps that can be taken to protect yourself from credit card skimming devices. No one thing is 100% effective in preventing these crimes. Here are some suggestions:

Protect your PIN

Cover your PIN with your hand when entering it at a terminal.

Use contactless payment

Tap your card at the terminal to generate a one-time code for each transaction.

Avoid outdoor terminals

Use ATMs inside banks or POS terminals inside gas stations, where criminals are less likely to tamper with them.

Check your account activity

Regularly check your account activity online and report any unauthorized transactions to your bank or credit card company immediately.

Use credit instead of debit

Debit cards are linked to your checking account, so if your data is stolen, the thief could access your banking information.

Avoid public WiFi

Using public WiFi can put your data at risk of being intercepted by cybercriminals.

Keep your card in sight

Don’t let your card out of your sight when paying for something.

Set up fraud alerts

Set up free fraud alerts with the three main credit bureaus to prevent criminals from opening new accounts or taking out loans in your name.

Use card controls

Use card controls to manage your debit card usage through your smartphone or online banking platform.

This article from the Federal Bureau of Investigation also provides helpful information:

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/skimming.