Check bank account if you used southeast Wichita ATM that had skimmer, police warn
An ATM user noticed a bank card wasn’t being read properly Thursday when the user wiggled the card reader and it popped off the machine.
Wichita police discovered the device was a skimmer, stuck onto the Sunflower Bank ATM with double-stick tape. Scammers place the devices over the top of ATM credit and debit card readers to scan for the card number and drain the victim’s bank account, police said Friday.
Police Capt. Doug Nolte said he thinks the skimmer was recovered before scammers could retrieve the information from the ATM located at 4101 E. Harry. That’s near Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph between Oliver and Hillside.
The devices – or at the least the one located Thursday, Nolte said – are not wireless, meaning that scammers cannot collect information instantly but must return to the ATM to get the device. Nolte said he doesn’t think the skimmer at Sunflower Bank was there for more than a few days.
“Our concern is there could be more of these devices put out in the Wichita area,” he said.
Wichita police looked to the Kansas City, Mo., area, where skimmers have been a recent trend. Notle said the skimmers are sometimes accompanied by a nearby camera that captures ATM users entering their PIN numbers after swiping a bank card. Scammers then return to the area to retrieve both the skimmer and video footage to pair the card numbers with the PIN number to access victims’ bank accounts.
The skimmer discovered Thursday did not have an accompanying camera, Nolte said. Most bank ATMs have security cameras in the area, so Nolte said investigators will examine footage in search of a suspect.
Investigators are also looking at other ATMs in the area and are examining the recovered skimmer for forensic evidence. No arrests have been made, Notle said.
“It’s not very large,” he said. “To the untrained eye, it probably would not draw any attention. However, if an ATM user was to reach up there and move the ATM skimmer, it would probably come off easily.”
If users find a skimmer, Nolte said they should contact the bank immediately by calling the number located on the machine and call 911. If users have used that particular ATM on East Harry lately, police encourage them to check their bank accounts.
“This is a crime of opportunity,” he said. “We need citizens to be very vigilant when they’re using ATMs.”
Reach Shelby Reynolds at 316-268-6514 or sreynolds@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @_shelbyreynolds.
Avoid skimmers and other scams
Here is what to look for at the ATM, gas pump or other bank card readers:
▪ Inspect the ATM, gas pump, or credit card reader before using it. Be suspicious if you see anything loose, crooked, or damaged. If the card reader looks funny, try gently tugging on it. Skimmers are sometimes attached with tape and will come off easily.
▪ When entering your PIN, block the keypad with your other hand to prevent possible hidden cameras from recording your number.
▪ If possible, use an ATM at an inside location, which provides less access for criminals to install skimmers.
▪ Be careful of ATMs in tourist areas. Those are a popular target of skimmers.
▪ If your card isn’t returned after the transaction or after hitting “cancel,” immediately contact the financial institution that issued the card.
▪ If the card entry indicator is not flashing, it could mean that a skimmer is in the way.
Sources: FBI; Consumer Reports magazine
This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 1:19 PM with the headline "Check bank account if you used southeast Wichita ATM that had skimmer, police warn."