A credit card skimming scheme was discovered at a local 7-Eleven store on Piner Road. Three suspects successfully installed the skimming device when the employees were distracted, giving them the opportunity to steal sensitive card information and put customers in jeopardy.
The skimmer was found on the pin pad of a front register and remained undetected for approximately 24 hours. Santa Rosa police officers managed to uncover and remove the device, giving the store a chance to notify cardholders who may have fallen victim to the scammers. As KTVU reports, the employee who discovered the skimming device promptly informed authorities about their findings.
Skimming device found on PIN pad at front register of @7eleven on Piner, warns @SantaRosaPolice, adding device was in place for about 24 hours after 3 guys installed it while distracting worker pic.twitter.com/ue6LFUFhnA
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) August 13, 2023
Adding to the mystery, investigators found that the devious trio captured on the video surveillance footage had entered the store, created a distraction, and quietly installed the device before vanishing into the night.
Unsettling as the events at the Santa Rosa 7-Eleven may be, it seems that the area has been plagued with similar scams recently. Skimming devices have been found on ATMs and credit card readers not only in Santa Rosa but across the North Bay, including Rohnert Park and Petaluma. This raises numerous questions about the safety of transactions at local convenience stores and banks, leaving the community on edge.
Meanwhile, 7-Eleven is actively working to identify any cardholders whose information may have been compromised as a result of this incident.
