The Calgary Police Service is fighting fraud caused by PIN pads that have been modified to steal your credit card or banking information.

Police said that the fraudsters will typically steal the PIN pad from stores close to closing and return fraudulent ones first thing in the morning.

When paying for items in a store, police ask that you inspect the terminal before inserting your card.

What to look for:

• Suspicious damage to the terminal over and above normal wear & tear;
• Your bank or credit card slides further into the machine than usual. This may be an indication that there is a false cover on the terminal;
• The paint on the plastic casing doesn’t match the rest of the unit or is worn off;
• There are gaps between the housing and the card slot;
• A visible mag strip reading is just inside the card slot. The term “mag stripe” refers to the magnetic strip on your bank or credit card that holds your account information. Card slots should not contain any mag strip reader as it functions using the chip in your card.

If you believe a PIN pad has been tampered with do not insert your card for payment, notify the store and contact the police.

You can reach the Calgary Police Fraud department at 403-266-1234.

Leah Crawford - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com