WASHINGTON — A local bank is offering a reward for the capture of an ATM skimmer after he got away with $100,000.
Maryland and federal investigators are trying to identify a tech-savvy thief suspected of stealing the ATM card and code numbers of scores of people, netting more than $100,000 and counting.
Maryland State Police say they believe the thief inserts a discreet device into ATM machines to record the magnetic strip information on debit cards. He uses an overhead camera to record pin numbers.
“That’s what allows him, at some point, to use that information and transfer it to a second card that has been modified and access your money at other ATMS,” says Rob Turano, director of corporate security for Sandy Spring Bank.
Sandy Spring is one of the banks hit by this suspect. The bank is not revealing the ATM locations that were compromised, stating it could compromise the investigation.
“We don’t believe the suspect is targeting specifically Sandy Spring,” Turano tells WTOP. However, he says the bank did recover skimmers on its ATMs.
“That’s why we’re being transparent in order to make sure our client base that uses the atms are aware of the situation.
The bank is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. In the meantime, he suggests all debit card users should consider changing their pins and regularly checking their accounts.
He suggests customers check the ATM before they use it — looking for anything that might stand out as abnormal. If their card does not slide through the card reader easily, Turano says customers should alert the financial institution that manages it for possible fraud.
“When you are accessing your pin number, you should try to conceal the keypad as you’re touching in the pin,” he says.
Customers should also monitor their bank account frequently, Turano suggests as this is far from the first time customers’ bank accounts have been compromised by hackers or thieves trying to defraud merchants or banks. Get more tips from the bank here.
Police say the man is operating in multiple Maryland counties and perhaps in one or more surrounding states. They believe he’s been able to steal more than $100,000.
Investigators are using surveillance photos of the suspect to try to find him.
Sandy Spring Bank is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
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