Reports of card compromise spur local skimmer alert

The Minocqua Police Department last week issued a fraud alert, cautioning local residents about possible credit card skimmers in the area, after receiving several complaints of compromised credit and debit cards.

In addition to the complaints, multiple social media reports emerged about similar information thefts, possibly involving card-skimming devices on local machines.

In its fraud alert, the police department emphasized that no confirmed skimmers had been found, but recent fraud reports shared by residents were numerous enough to raise red flags. 

“Please take a moment to protect yourself and your information,” the police alert on Facebook stated. “There are no confirmed card skimmers at this time, but the Minocqua Police Department is asking the public to be aware of the possibility.”

On Nov. 21, Minocqua chief of police Glenn Janzer said the investigation into the complaints was ongoing but that there was no new information to report since the alert was issued.

“We only have a few reports from residents to us,” Janzer said. “We wanted to get the alert out to the public so that everyone is aware.” 

Janzer said the town would update the alert as new information became available.

The alert described a skimmer as a small device that criminals attach to ATMs, gas pumps, or store card readers to steal card and PIN numbers.

In its initial alert, the department advised residents to remain vigilant and provided detailed guidance on how to check for a skimmer at gas pumps, ATMs, and retail card readers.

Police urged customers to visually inspect and test card readers before use. Loose parts, mismatched colors, broken seals, any component that moves under light pressure—all these can signal tampering.

“Gently tug the card reader and keypad,” the alert advised. “If anything wiggles or pops off, don’t use it and report it immediately. Check the seal: Many gas pumps have a tamper-evident seal sticker. If it’s broken or looks peeled up, avoid that pump.”

The alert also advised residents to cover their PIN numbers.

“Always shield the keypad when entering your PIN,” the alert stated. “Some skimmers use hidden cameras. Use your phone/inside payment when possible: Paying inside or using tap-to-pay reduces risk.”

The department also clarified and emphasized in a second post that business owners were not behind any skimming scheme.

“If a card skimmer is found, it is not something the business itself is placing on their machines,” the alert stated. “Skimmers are typically installed by third-party individuals without the business’s knowledge. These devices are designed to blend in and can be attached quickly without employees noticing.”

The department reiterated that officers had not confirmed any skimming at area stores at the time of the post.

“We have begun contacting local businesses to check their machines as a precaution, and we appreciate the cooperation we’ve received so far,” the alert stated. “Our goal is simply to keep the community informed and help prevent anyone from becoming a victim.”

Local residents report compromised cards

While local law enforcement has not confirmed a skimmer, multiple residents on social media last week were reporting fraudulent charges, several tied to gas stations or food establishments.

One resident wrote that their card was stolen after being used at a local establishment, then used the next day for “$119 worth of gas at Casey’s in Edgerton.” 

Their bank flagged it immediately, and the card was canceled, according to the post.

Another said their card was compromised after using it at Pizza Hut, with “whoever” buying “a $600 AirBnB” and draining the account.

A different poster said his wife’s card was hit for $150. The fraudulent charge appeared hundreds of miles away in Bloomington, Illinois, the poster reported — “at a Casey’s gas station.” Their bank reported other cards from the Northwoods used at the same location, the poster said.

Other commenters described broader concerns, including in-store skimming, fraudulent card recording at fast-food counters, and the use of RFID (radio frequency identification)-harvesting devices carried in pockets or bags. 

“People also have card readers/skimmers on them in stores,” one resident warned, urging RFID protection.

The majority of posters did not identify specific businesses, and police reiterated that criminal skimmers can be installed without employees' or owners' knowledge.

Part of a statewide trend

Minocqua is far from alone in reported skimming incidents. Wisconsin’s law enforcement agencies have reported multiple arrests in skimming cases this year, involving both visible devices and “deep insertion skimmers” hidden inside the card slot.

In June, WMTV reported that Wisconsin Dells police arrested two individuals suspected of placing skimmers at multiple Kwik Trip ATMs across Wisconsin Dells, Lake Delton, and Baraboo. Investigators recovered skimmers and “components for manufacturing skimmers.”

Whitewater police also announced a major case in March, reporting that a suspect arrested in Kenosha County possessed “cloned credit/debit card data from numerous victims,” the Whitewater chamber reported.

Kenosha authorities issued similar warnings after a skimming suspect was taken into custody on March 18, Fox6 reported, urging anyone who used ATMs in question to contact the sheriff’s office to compare their card numbers with compromised data.

Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has repeatedly cautioned consumers that gas-pump skimmers can be installed “in seconds,” often without outward signs of damage, and urged close inspection of pumps, seals, and card readers. Newer skimming devices can be nearly invisible.

The Federal Trade Commission describes skimmers as “illegal card readers attached to payment terminals” that harvest data from magnetic stripes and later sell it or use it to commit fraudulent purchases. Victims often discover the theft only when monthly statements arrive, the FTC states.

The FBI estimates skimming costs consumers and financial institutions more than $1 billion annually. Skimmers on fuel pumps are particularly difficult to spot, the agency states, because they are “attached to the internal wiring of the machine and aren’t visible to the customer.”

Federal agencies echo the same guidance as the Minocqua police department: choose pumps close to store entrances, tug on card readers, check for broken seals, shield PIN entries, and use tap-to-pay or pay inside when possible.

Authorities say tourist corridors and small towns with high traffic and low suspicion are frequent targets. Devices can be installed in seconds and retrieved days later, sometimes by traveling fraud rings that move across multiple counties.

Residents who believe they used a tampered machine or have noticed suspicious activity on their accounts are asked to contact the Minocqua Police Department at 715-356-3234. Banks also urge immediate reporting of any unauthorized charges.

Police continue checking local card readers as a precaution, and said they appreciate business cooperation.

Richard Moore is the author of “Dark State” and may be reached at richardd3d.substack.com.