A New Jersey grocery market is warning other businesses and shoppers to be on the lookout for scammers after it released surveillance footage that appeared to show a customer inside the store placing a keypad-like device over one of its payment terminals. The video went viral hours after it was posted on TikTok, with many viewers responding with shock at the situation.
The grocery store in Springfield, Gold Valley Supermarket, shared the footage and claimed it shows a customer attaching a card skimmer to a checkout machine while making a purchase. The store said it noticed the device within 20 minutes and removed it before any customers used their chip cards on the affected terminal.
In the video, a man wearing a green shirt and baseball cap can be seen standing beside a woman believed to be his companion while their groceries are being processed at the register. As the cashier is busy completing the transaction, the man takes an object from his pocket and places it over the keypad of the store’s card reader.
The footage shows the device fitting over the machine in a way that made it resemble the original card reader. Afterward, the man and woman completed their purchase and left the store with their groceries.
Netizens’ Reaction to the New Jersey Store Incident
In the comments section of the TikTok video, which has now racked up more than 100,000 views, many netizens were not only alarmed but appeared to be frustrated over the alleged incident.
One commenter wrote, “The fatigue is fatiguing.” Another said, “I’m honestly sick of this. And I don’t even have money for them to take.” A third remarked, “That’s actually insane,” while a fourth added, “And people say it’s an inside job, not always…”
Several viewers questioned how the customer expected to avoid being identified. “Does he think cameras don’t exist?” one person asked. Someone else mocked, “Dude probably wasn’t slick enough as he thought he was.”
Others speculated that the individual may have been familiar with the business. “What’s crazy is i bet they frequent that store,” one viewer wrote.
A few people also shared tips for protecting payment information while shopping. “That’s why I use Apple Pay, every transaction is encrypted,” one comment read. Another added, “Anytime I go somewhere I pull on the scanners to make sure there isn’t one on it.”
According to the supermarket, police have been notified and the business is pursuing all available avenues to identify and locate the person seen in the video.
