The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is warning the public about a scam known as “juice jacking” in which criminals use public USB chargers to steal data.

Travelers should avoid using public USB power charging stations in airports, hotels and other locations because they may contain dangerous malware. In the scam, criminals load malware onto charging stations or cables they leave plugged in so they may infect the phones and other electronic devices of unsuspecting users. People should always use an AC power outlet to charge devices, not USB charging stations. For information, visit da.lacounty.gov.