ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Law enforcement across South Georgia is warning shoppers to check their bank accounts after multiple card skimmers were recently discovered at several Dollar General stores in Lee and Dougherty counties.

According to Dougherty County Police (DCPD) and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), multiple card skimmers were recovered across several Dollar General locations in Lee and Dougherty County on Saturday, May 9, including one off Newton Road.

>> CHECK YOUR ACCOUNT: Officials recover multiple card skimmers from SGA Dollar General stores <<

“Well, I just couldn’t believe it at first, you know, because we go to Dollar General to save money. Right. And when you go to Dollar General, you expect to save money, but you don’t expect to have someone take money out of your account. And I also wondered who was doing it,” said community member Ren’ee Rentmeester.

Officials said card skimmers are designed to secretly steal information while customers use a debit or credit card. Criminals place fake readers over real card machines at gas pumps, self-checkouts or store registers. When a customer swipes or inserts their card, the skimmer copies the card’s data while the real machine still processes the payment.

Investigators said the stolen information can later be used to make fraudulent purchases or create cloned cards.

Authorities recommend using tap-to-pay when possible and regularly checking bank accounts for suspicious charges.

“However, we’ve not experienced any of those cases in the city, but we are on the lookout for those cases as well. We are encouraging people, if you shop at any of those locations or any locations where you have to scan your card that you what you use to tap on the card instead,” an official said.

Rentmeester said the incident has made her more cautious while shopping.

“It makes me feel anxious and a little unnerved because, you know, you just you just don’t expect that this is a nice area. People are kind and friendly, and you don’t expect, like, this hidden thief on your account,” she said.

Officials recommend that anyone who shopped at those locations across Lee and Dougherty County check their bank accounts for fraudulent or unrecognized charges. If they see unrecognized charges, officials said to contact your bank immediately.

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