COLUMBUS, Ohio — Customers at Giant Eagle are being warned after skimming devices that can be used to steal credit card information were detected at five stores across the state including two in central Ohio.
The first devices were identified at the Giant Eagle at 4000 West Powell Rd. in Powell. The chain inspected the rest of its stores and found more devices at its location at 2801 North High St. along with three other locations in the Cleveland area.
“You imagine that it is going on all over the place, but then you hear about it happen at the store that you shop at and it makes you a little paranoid,” said Brian Pratt, who does his regular grocery shopping at the Powell location.
Customers who swiped their cards are being warned to keep an eye on their bank accounts, while Giant Eagle said those who paid with a chip reader or by tapping are in the clear.
While these stores are outside of Franklin County’s jurisdiction, Auditor Michael Stinziano said it is surprising to find so many devices.
In recent years, improvements in technology and crackdowns by law enforcement have led to a decrease in skimming scams. The Franklin County Auditors Office did not detect any skimming devices during its regular sweeps and inspections conducted in 2023.
Still, Stinziano warns that criminals are out there and can be sneaky.
“They walk in and take advantage when people aren’t looking. Unfortunately, oftentimes we see people if they want to accomplish it, they are able to, there are some protections, but they have had success unfortunately,” Stinziano said.
He said customers should look out for any damage to card readers, as that could be a sign of skimming. At gas stations, customers can look out for a tear in safety seals.
In response to the detection of the skimming devices, Giant Eagle said it is retraining its employees to identify them.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office encourages shoppers with concerns about potential skimming devices to make a report at 614-525-SCAM.
The Powell Police Department is investigating the incident at the Powell location and said so far, no victims have been identified.
10TV also reached out to the Columbus Division of Police regarding the devices found at the store on North High Street.
Read their full statement below:
"There is a police investigation underway, in conjunction with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, regarding the skimmer device found at the Giant Eagle in Powell. The device was removed when reported by the store and is currently undergoing forensic analysis. No victims have been identified as the physical device, and any subsequently collected data, was not retrieved by the perpetrator. However, any customers who visited the store and used the magnetic swipe mechanism on the PIN pads should monitor their accounts for signs of fraudulent activities as a precaution."