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CASH WOES
Skimmers are being found all over the country
- Dinniah Bartholomew, News Reporter
A BANKER has had her account drained after she became a victim of an ATM scam.
Jordan Smith fell victim to an ATM skimmer after Banterra Bankwas targeted with the illegal device.
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“I was very worrisome and I really just wanted answers,” Smith told ABC affiliate WSIL-TV.
A skimmer can easily blend in with any credit card machine or ATM, causing people to use them and get their financial information recorded unknowingly.
“The specific device used is often a realistic-looking card reader placed over the factory-installed card reader,” theFBIsaid.
“Customers insert their ATM card into the phony reader, and their account info is swiped and stored on a small attached laptop or cell phone or sent wirelessly to the criminals waiting nearby.”
Read More on Skimmers
Banterra Bank discovered three at its locations last week, sparking a major investigation.
Smith didn't find out she was stolen from until her card had declined.
When she checked her bank account she realized everything was gone, and she couldn't contact her bank because it was a weekend.
“At that point, it was too late,” said Smith. “They [Banterra Bank] were closed.”
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The customer had gone without money until Monday when she was finally able to talk with a representative for the institution.
“They were good about canceling my card,” Smith explained.
'Thief' caught on camera placing info-stealing device on ATM as cops warn 'numerous' credit card numbers were stolen
“And then we already have the funds back into our account.”
Smith admits in the future she will be more careful when it comes to skimmers.
“My husband even told me, ‘I always pull on the canners and stuff like that,’” said Smith.
“I guess I never would have thought it would happen to us or even thought about it.”
What is a skimmer device?
A skimmer device is a fraud tool designed to steal sensitive information from credit or debit cards during transactions.
- Imagine a skimmer device as a sneaky thief that hides on ATMs or card machines.
- Its job is to secretly steal your credit or debit card information when you use it for a transaction.
- These devices are like tiny spies that can copy your card details, including the card number and PIN, without you even realizing it.
- Skimmers can be cleverly disguised to look just like the regular card reader, making them hard to spot.
- Once they have your information, bad guys can use it to make fake cards or buy things without your permission, causing a lot of trouble and stress.
- It's important to always be cautious and check for anything unusual on card machines before using them to protect yourself from these sneaky devices.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Banterra Bank for comment.
MORE SKIMMERS
Skimmers are being found all across America, leaving vulnerable people at risk.
Police in Towson,Maryland- located 20 minutes north of Baltimore - revealed that a skimming device was placed on a self-checkout register at a Wawa.
Authorities quickly notified customers of the gas station, on May 15.
"Anyone who may have been directly affected or know someone who was, please have them contact us at 410-887- 2222 to file a report," the statement continued.
"The device has since been removed, but we still ask that you monitor your accounts for any fraudulent activity."
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Anyone who visited that location has been asked to monitor their bank statements and flag to the police any suspicious activity.
The U.S. Sun reached out to Wawa and Baltimore police for comment but did not immediately hear back.
