PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Two separate drug stops in Palm Beach County took an unexpected turn Tuesday morning when deputies say they uncovered suspected identity theft and credit card fraud involving skimming devices and stacks of cards tied to other people.
It was just after 9:30 Tuesday morning near Lantana Road and Congress Avenue when Palm Beach County Sheriff deputies say a drug investigation led to two separate discoveries.
Investigators say they initially stopped Josue Laurince and immediately saw him trying to hide two debit cards in the driver’s seat. Deputies say a search uncovered four debit cards with four different names, four cell phones, and a skimming device, which can be used to capture bank information.
Deputies say a second stop nearby led to a similar find.
In Jimsley Bernard’s wallet, investigators say they found five more cards tied to other people.
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Deputies also reported finding seven phones, a rifle, a handgun, and another skimming device.
Karim Hijazi, a cybersecurity expert with more than 30 years of experience, said skimmers can come in different shapes and sizes.
“They come in the form of either a handheld device that the perpetrator will use to get the card number,” Hijazi said.
Hijazi said criminals don’t necessarily need someone to swipe a card at a gas pump or ATM to steal information.
“It’s actually an NFC chip – which is a near frequency chip – and if you get close enough to it, it can pull information just like when you do when you tap your card on legitimate devices,” he said.
Once thieves have card data, Hijazi said they can create cards that look authentic.
“They have printers now that will actually print the face of the card that looks just like a bank card,” he said. “No one’s gonna know the difference.”
Hijazi said special wallets can help block digital skimmers, but staying aware is the best defense.
Laurince and Bernard both face felony charges, including fraudulent possession of personal ID and having a skimming device, along with other charges, deputies said.
