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Since April 1st, the Helena Police Department has investigated at least 30 cases of credit card charges that were not made by the cardholders.

Authorities are investigating the cases of "skimming" which may have occurred in at least two local restaurants.

HPD detective Russ Whitcomb explained, "Helena has experienced it's first case of 'skimming' of credit and debit cards that I'm aware of. Skimming occurs when somebody provides your credit card to a cashier or a waiter or waitress at a restaurant or some other business. Then they take the credit card and run it through a handheld skimming device that reads the magnetic strip on the back of the card. That magnetic strip is then downloaded to a computer and a counterfeit card just like your debit card is then made."

Skimming can also occur at automatic teller machines (ATM) and at gas pumps. In those cases, scammers secretly install a skimming device on an ATM or fuel pump, carefully disguising it by trying to make it "blend in" with the regular fixtures and equipment.

Whitcomb says as soon as you notice an invalid charge to report it to your credit card company and file a police report right away.

Consumer Reports offers the following tips to help prevent being "skimmed" - click here to read the full article.

Don't type in your PIN at the pump: be especially vigilant at gas stations; one expert recommends using a credit card rather than a debit card when you fill your tank.

Stick with ATMs located at banks: to reduce your risk at ATMs, use machines at banks rather than in convenience stores, airports, or any isolated locations, advises Darrin Blackford, a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service. "It's often hard to spot skimmers," Blackford says. "But if you notice a change at an ATM you use routinely, such as a color difference in the card reader or a gap where something appears to be glued onto the slot where you insert your card, that's a warning sign you'd want to report to the bank that owns the machine."

Closely monitor your bank accounts: check them regularly - preferably online rather than waiting for monthly statements to arrive in the mail. Federal law limits your liability for fraudulent debit-card charges to $50, but only if you report the theft or loss of your card or PIN within two business days of discovering the problem.