Police say numerous “skimmer” devices located around Quad Cities area credit card readers

QUAD CITIES – Traveling to the luxurious Quad Cities? Take caution if swiping a credit card, as police there say numerous skimmer devices are being found in credit card readers there.

On March 16, 2025, at approximately 3:26 PM, officers with the Rock Island Police Department met with the manager of the 7-Eleven located at 4520 11th Street, after an illegal debit/credit scanning device, commonly referred to as a “skimmer”, was located attached to a credit card reader inside the store. This incident currently remains under investigation by the Rock Island Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division.

A “skimmer” is a small device used to illegally capture credit card data, and often involves placing what appears to be a legitimate credit card reader over top of an existing reader. The “skimmer” then records the credit/debit card information and private PIN from the user. Skimmers are frequently located on ATMs, gas pumps, or point-of-sale terminals inside retail establishments.

As of today’s date, numerous skimmers have been located around the Quad City area, each at a 7-Eleven convenience store, and cooperative investigations are being conducted, police say. Area police departments are also coordinating with the Secret Service in these investigations and efforts are underway to physically check for these devices at all convenience store locations.

Chief Tim McCloud reminded all citizens of this potential scam and recommends that everyone remain vigilant when using credit or debit card readers. Additionally, all business owners should inspect their point-of-sale terminals to see if a skimmer is attached and report it to law enforcement if one is found. If anyone feels they have been the victim of an illegal scanning device, they are advised to contact their bank or credit institution to determine if their card has been compromised and if any unauthorized purchases have been made.