Skimming device at Golden Dawn is only one found recently in New Kensington, police say

A skimming device found at a New Kensington grocery store this week is the only one the city’s police are aware of, a detective said Friday.

Golden Dawn owners Gene Tommasi and Jim Faccenda said Thursday a skimming device was found Wednesday attached to the pinpad in one of their five checkout lanes.

While they believe the device, which can steal credit and debit card information, was there only a day or two before being discovered, New Kensington police Detective Sgt. Sam Long said police are not sure when it was placed.

“We haven’t received any reports of financial information being compromised as a result of the skimming device,” Long said. “Many of these devices have to be retrieved by the actor who placed it in order to obtain the information from any cards used.”

The device, now in possession of New Kensington police, covers the lower portion of a pinpad, including the buttons and privacy shroud. It was attached with four pieces of doublesided tape.

“The terminal functions as normal, but the card information is stored on the device and then downloaded once retrieved,” Long said.

Long was not certain whether the device found at Golden Dawn was capable of transmitting data. Some use Bluetooth to send credit or debit card information to a computer or phone, but the range and battery life are limited, he said.

After having a device found at their grocery store, Tommasi and Faccenda said they will check more frequently for them.

Long said he personally checks terminals at stores, gas pumps and ATMs before using them.

“Most of the time, the skimmers are held on with an adhesive tape or something similar,” he said. “When you lift up on the edge of the device, it will separate the skimmer device from the terminal.

“I would urge all stores to have employees or store security do regular checks of the point-of-sale terminals, ATMs and gas pumps to check for these devices,” Long said.

Anyone who believes their financial information has been compromised by the device at Golden Dawn is encouraged to make a report with New Kensington police, Long said.