WARNING - Bank ATMs Converted to Steal IDs

[Junkman]

This was forwarded to me, but I cannot disclose its origins for obvious reasons. Read the text and look at the pictures. This is being circulated to police departments around the country.

Bank ATMs Converted to Steal IDs of Bank Customers

A team of organized criminals is installing equipment on legitimate bank ATMs in at least 2 regions to steal both the ATM card number and the PIN. The team sits nearby in a car receiving the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from equipment they install on the front of the ATM (see photos). If you see an attachment like this, do not use the ATM and report it immediately to the bank using the 800 number or phone on the front of the ATM.

The equipment used to capture your ATM card number and PIN is cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM equipment. A "skimmer" is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a nearby car.

At the same time, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries.

The thieves copy the cards and use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM.

 

[Junkman]

picture 1 - Equipment being installed on front of existing bank card slot.

 

[Junkman]

picture 2 - The equipment as it appears installed over the normal ATM bank slot.

 

[Junkman]

picture 3 - The PIN reading camera being installed on the ATM is housed in an innocent looking leaflet enclosure.

 

[Junkman]

picture 4 - The camera shown installed and ready to capture PINs by looking down on the keypad as you enter your PIN.

 

[gsganzer]

I'll tell you what. If these same people made as much effort to earn a living honestly, as they do trying to steal, they'd probably be millionaires. I'm almost to the point where I want to pay cash for everything, so I never have to show anyone my card. You also have to worry about the new camera phones, they'll take pictures of your card information.

 

[thcri]

Dateline or something like that had a deal on TV where people were using their cell phones to take pictures of credit cards from people in line at the cash registers. When the person would pull out the credit card the person next in line would take a picture of it and then use it for online transactions. I would think they could trace the packages to where they were shipped but they evidently can't catch these people.

murph

 

[OkeeDon]

This appears to be a legitimate warning. Here's the same information from the Univ of Texas Police Department: ATM skimmer.

 

[Junkman]

That is the bulletin that went out to all PD's across the nation I believe. I guess that some of them have posted it to their websites.

 

[JDgreen227]

"If these same people made as much effort to earn a living honestly..." I will concur with that.

HOWEVER, income derived from criminal activities does not have to be declared nor is it taxed before the crooks line their pockets with it.

Every time I read about a new computer virus it makes me wonder why the people who create the virus can't use their intelligence for more creative purposes.

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