The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office continues to receive numerous complaints from residents regarding fraudulent charges on debit and credit cards. In most of the cases the victim is still in possession of the debit or credit card, however, during some transaction the card number has been captured and subsequently used for unauthorized purchases.

Card numbers can be “skimmed” by placing a device on the card readers such as at gas stations or ATMs, however, it is also possible for thieves to get this information from point of sale terminals in any retail establishment that accepts credit or debit cards.