Stop & Shop Reports Fraud Linked to PIN Pads at Two R.I. Stores

QUINCY, Mass. -- Stop & Shop Supermarkets here has reported on its website that it was notified last week of possible fraudulent activity at other retailers linked to credit and debit cards processed at two of its stores in Rhode Island. Upon investigating, the retailer discovered tampering of one checkout lane PIN-pad device in a store Coventry, R.I., and another at a store in Cranston, R.I. “As a result of this tampering, account and PIN numbers associated with some credit and debit cards used in these two checkout lanes in early February were stolen,” the website said. Since then the chain has been working with local police departments and the U.S. Secret Service, and has asked its payment networks and banks “to identify and protect affected customer accounts.” The chain also discovered evidence of tampering at three other Rhode Island stores and a Massachusetts store, but no fraudulent transactions have been reported in connection with those stores. Robert Keane, spokesman for Stop & Shop, told SN that since last week PIN pads at all Stop & Shop and Giant of Landover, Md., stores have been secured with bolts so that they can‘t be removed and subjected to tampering. Stop & Shop and Giant are units of Ahold. -- Michael Garry