Shopper Captures Alleged Credit Card Skimmer at 7-Eleven in Viral Video

Amid a spike in reports of credit card theft devices, viral footage captured a shopper confronting a 7-Eleven cashier over an alleged skimmer.

Skimmers are devices installed on card readers that collect card numbers, allowing thieves to recover and use the information for fraudulent purchases. They are most often camouflaged at ATMs and gas stations, but scammers can also target retail stores and restaurants, according to Forbes.

The card skimmers can often transmit information through Bluetooth. That means a thief can return to the same location and download the data without contact, whether they are sitting in the back of a car or simply hovering nearby.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises checking for any tampering or loose parts of a card reader, as skimmers often stick out or move when you wiggle them. Customers at a gas pump can also compare the neighboring machines for any differences.

Customer Will Hunter's TikTok video, taken moments after he spotted an alleged skimmer, has been viewed over 41 million times since it surfaced on August 24.

"Credit card skimmer caught," he said in the caption, identifying the store as a 7-Eleven in Mill Valley, California.

His footage showed him holding up what looked like a skimmer that had been pulled off the card reader.

"That's f**king crazy," he said to the cashier, adding, "I'm not gonna pay card."

Hunter started to walk away with the alleged skimmer, saying, "I'm gonna take it."

"You can't do that, man," said the cashier. Hunter continued to leave as the video cut out.

The Marin County Sheriff's Office confirmed to Newsweek that a credit card skimmer was located on August 25 at 371 Shoreline Highway, a 7-Eleven in Mill Valley, California. Over the previous six weeks, at least six law enforcement agencies across California's Bay Area issued similar reports.

On July 15, a card skimmer was reported at a Chevron 7-Eleven in Sunnyvale. Just a day later, the Oakland Police Department circulated surveillance photos of a man planting a skimmer at an Oakland 7-Eleven on July 16.

Other skimmers and small cameras were found at a Bank of America ATM and three 7-Eleven stores in Petaluma, according to a warning from the Petaluma Police Department on July 18. The Broadmoor Police Department announced that a skimmer was found at yet another 7-Eleven on August 17.

A spokesperson for the retail chain told Newsweek, "7-Eleven takes allegations involving card skimmers very seriously. 7-Eleven inspects gas pumps and card readers regularly and cooperates closely with law enforcement regarding related investigations."

Newsweek reached out to Hunter for comment.

Updated 09/20/2022, at 10:58 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and background.