Skimming devices found on two local ATMs
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 02/03/2010
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Customers at two banks in the Lafayette area were hit last week by ATM skimming devices that steal account information.
The Fifth Third Bank branch on State Road 26 detected the device and removed it Monday, said Stephanie Honan from the bank’s communication department.
Customers affected by the scam were notified and any purchases made with the stolen information were refunded. Police were also notified. Honan said the bank was unaware of any more devices on its other ATMs in the area.
An Old National Bank ATM was also affected.
The devices, affixed to the ATMs, record card info and are later retrieved, said Bryan Corbin from the Indiana Attorney General’s office.
Corbin said, “They are deceptive in that they look like the normal slot.”
Honan said ATM skimming is a well established scam that extends beyond Fifth Third Bank.
“This is an industry problem ... it’s the bad guys doing what they do, stealing from others,” Honan said.
To prevent scams such as skimming, Honan said the bank has several practices in effect including having branch managers inspect the ATMs twice daily.
Educating customers is also important. Both Honan and Corbin said ATMs should be given a good look over before use to detect any abnormalities that might suggest tampering.
Indiana residents can also go to www.indianaconsumer.com where they can not only report identity theft, but also enable a credit freeze. Corbin said that in this status, no new lines of credit can be opened.
College students, who make a large amount of purchases using credit and debit cards, should remain especially vigilant, said Corbin.
“If somebody ruins your credit rating you’re really stuck. And that shadow can loom over you for years.”
Several laws, recently passed, place specific penalties for using skimming devices to steal identity and also make recovering easier for victims. Regardless, the scams continue.
Honan said, “As long as there’s people who want to do bad ... it’s always something we’ll have to deal with.”