Thieves Use New Technology to Steal

By Kimberly Craig

Web produced by Sarah Morgan
December 16, 2005

Thieves have found a new way to rip you off this season and 7 Action News explains how to protect yourself from having your credit card number stolen.

With new technology, like camera phones, thieves can easily photograph your credit card if you have it in your hand while you’re standing in line or if it’s lying on the counter.
Gerry Scherlinck of the Troy Police said in other cases, it may be the cashier trying to steal your information.

"A case earlier in the year where an individual was real suspicious of a cashier’s behavior in and around the credit card transaction. As she went through the line, he pulled out his cell phone and as her credit card information came up on the electronic cash register (ECR) ?monitor, he pulled it out, held it up over the monitor, hit a couple buttons and completed the sale. The next person in line, the exact same thing happened," he said.

Officer Scherlinck warns people to be aware of their surroundings while making a purchase and don’t forget to check your statement for purchases you did not make.

ECONOMY: More gold coins planned
Despite Americans' lack of interest in collecting or circulating dollar coins featuring Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea, the federal government is preparing to mint more of them --- this time depicting presidents. Starting in 2007, the U.S. Mint will strike four new dollar coins a year featuring late presidents on one side and the Statue of Liberty on the other. Storekeepers complain they don't have space in the electronic cash register (ECR) for dollar coins, most vending machines don't accept them and banks don't like them because they are bulky and heavy.

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