Police in Georgia are warning shoppers to closely monitor their bank accounts after a credit …

Law enforcement agencies across Georgia have issued warnings to consumers following the discovery of credit card skimming devices at multiple Dollar General stores. Authorities are urging shoppers to monitor their financial statements for unauthorized activity after devices designed to steal payment information were recovered from several retail locations.

On May 9, 2026, the Dougherty County Police (DCPD) and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) recovered multiple card skimmers from several Dollar General stores across Lee and Dougherty counties. The recovered devices included one found at a location off Newton Road.

In a separate incident, the Hogansville Police Department issued a public service alert on May 13, 2026, stating that a skimmer device was discovered at the Dollar General located on Highway 29. Police officials noted that it remains unclear how long the device had been in place prior to its discovery.

Community members have expressed concern over the security of these budget-friendly retail environments. Ren’ee Rentmeester, a community member, reacted to the discoveries in South Georgia:

Well, I just couldn’t believe it at first, you know, because we go to Dollar General to save money. Right. And when you go to Dollar General, you expect to save money, but you don’t expect to have someone take money out of your account. And I also wondered who was doing it,

Ren’ee Rentmeester

Card skimmers are illicit devices secretly installed on card readers to capture payment information. According to investigators, criminals place fake readers over legitimate card machines at store registers, self-checkouts, or gas pumps. When a customer inserts or swipes their card, the skimmer copies the card’s data while the actual machine continues to process the payment, often leaving the user unaware of the theft.

The stolen data can subsequently be used by criminals to create cloned cards or make fraudulent purchases. While law enforcement in some areas has not yet confirmed specific cases of fraud resulting from these particular devices, they remain vigilant.

However, we’ve not experienced any of those cases in the city, but we are on the lookout for those cases as well. We are encouraging people, if you shop at any of those locations or any locations where you have to scan your card that you what you use to tap on the card instead,

Official from the Dougherty County Police and Lee County Sheriff’s Office investigation

To protect against skimming and identity theft, authorities recommend several security measures for consumers:

• Utilize tap-to-pay digital payment methods whenever available, as these are more secure than swiping or inserting cards.
• Physically inspect card readers for loose parts or fake overlays before using a terminal.
• Regularly review bank accounts and credit card statements for suspicious or unauthorized charges.

The Hogansville Police Department advised that any customers who notice fraudulent activity should immediately contact their credit card company or bank to report the charges and freeze or cancel affected cards.

The investigation into the placement of these devices remains ongoing across the affected Georgia counties.