Thief Plants Camera on ATM in Skimming Scam: Police

Police are on the hunt for a man who they say planted devices onto the ATM machine of a South Jersey bank in an attempt to steal from unsuspecting customers.

According to police, the suspect was caught on surveillance video on Saturday, installing a skimming device on an ATM inside the Bank of America on W. Rt. 70 in Marlton, New Jersey.
Investigators say the man first attached a small electronic device over the card slot to record customers’ account information. He then allegedly attached a small pin-hole camera to the ATM to record the users entering their PIN number.

“Very sophisticated,” said Evesham Township Police Lieutenant Joe Friel. “The camera was definitely high tech. They made it in plastic that blended with the ATM machine. It was a small pin-hole camera that was recording all the number strokes from the customers.”

During most skimming cases, the stolen information is encoded onto blank cards and is then used at ATMs to withdraw funds with the customer’s PIN.

Police say the device was only attached to the ATM at the Bank of America for three hours, thanks to an alert customer. The customer noticed a tiny wire sticking out where the adhesive was holding the camera in place. Friel says the customer helped save thousands of dollars from being stolen by alerting police immediately.

If you have any information on the suspect’s identity, please call the Evesham Police Department at 856-983-1116, the Confidential Tip Line at 856-983-4699 or email at Facebook@Eveshampd.org. Anonymous tips text ETPDTIP to 847411

To avoid being the victim of skimming, police say you should always inspect the ATM, gas pump or credit card reader before using it and be suspicious if you see anything loose, crooked or damaged or notice scratches or adhesive/tape residue.

Police also recommend blocking the keypad with your other hand while entering your PIN number to prevent possible hidden cameras from recording it and to use an inside rather than outside ATM if possible. If your card isn’t returned after the transaction or after you hit cancel, police say you should immediately contact your card company.

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