The wires and batteries of a skimming device found on a MetroCard vending machine at Columbus Circle subway station on Wednesday night.
Credit: MTA
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority warned customers Thursday of MetroCard vending machine scams after a skimming device and hidden camera were found on a machine inside the Columbus Circle subway station.
Officials said a customer noticed the device attached to a vending machine on the north end of a southbound 1 train platform and alerted an agent on duty at the station around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Police are investigating the device.
Customers who have purchased a MetroCard at that vending machine using a credit or debit card are urged to check if their accounts have shown signs of fraudulent activity.
Skimming devices like the one found are used to take debit or credit card information, while cameras catch the PIN numbers customers enter into the machine.
MTA officials said personnel were dispatched Thursday to check all MetroCard machines system-wide for such devices.
Follow Anna Sanders on Twitter @AnnaESanders
