A pay parking lot was the latest target of a debit card skimming scam, Langley RCMP say.

On Feb. 25, a local driver called the Mounties to report that he had tried to swipe his card, but found that the reader was a fake.

Debit card skimmers are devices that read and copy the magnetic information from cards, sometimes along with the personal identification number.

Thieves can then retrieve the stored data, and make fake cards. They use low-level accomplices to withdraw cash from numerous bank machines once they have a large store of copied cards.

In this case, police have seized the skimmer, and are warning residents to be on their guard.

Devices that eat their cards may be suspicious, especially if someone then approaches and suggests re-entering the PIN, said Cpl. Holly Marks, spokesperson for the Langley RCMP.

Whenever possible, use familiar ATMs, especially ones covered by security cameras, she said.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com