The Goldsboro Police Department is warning the community about a recent increase in scams involving card skimmers designed to steal credit and debit card information.

Card skimmers are hidden devices placed on ATMs, gas pumps, and payment terminals.

Many other scams involve phishing emails or text messages, where fraudsters impersonate legitimate organizations, such as banks or online retailers, and request personal information or login credentials.

Citizens are encouraged not to click on these emails or text messages.

Tech support scams, where individuals receive unsolicited calls claiming their computer has a virus, and the caller requests remote access or payment for unnecessary services.

Online marketplace scams have been on the rise, with fraudulent sellers posting fake listings to steal money from unsuspecting buyers.

Cryptocurrency / Bitcoin scams are also becoming more frequent, with fraudsters promoting fake investment opportunities or impersonating well-known figures to gain trust.

These are only a few examples of the scams that are floating around.

Some ways to protect yourself against card reader scams in particular are inspecting card readers for anything loose, bulky, or misaligned before inserting your card.

Use chip or contactless payment whenever possible, cover your keypad when entering your pin, and monitor your bank statements for suspicious activity.

Other ways to protect yourself include never sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers, emails, or websites.

Verify requests by contacting the company or agency directly using official contact details.

Be wary of any urgent demands for payments, especially through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

If you suspect a scam of any kind, report it to Law Enforcement immediately.

Staying informed and cautious is your best defense against becoming a victim.