Howard County police are encouraging customers who bank at NASA Federal Credit Union in Columbia to be especially vigilant in monitoring their account statements and to report any inconsistencies after police confiscated an ATM skimming device found June 7 at the branch in the 6400 block of Dobbin Road.
According to police, officers were called to the area around 7:05 p.m. after a caller reported that an ATM's card scanner looked suspicious and had come loose from the machine. The device, later found to be a replica of the ATM's scanner, had been attached to the machine with tape, while a small camera and memory card were removed from the machine.
Card skimming is a crime that involves installing a device, which is often difficult to detect, that records account information when a card is swiped at an ATM, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. Criminals then use the data to access the victim's bank account. These devices are sometimes found at ATMs, gas pumps and other point of sale locations.
Police said have not received any reports of stolen information being used.
The department is also warning residents to be alert when using credit and bank cards at automated machines. Police said skimming devices have become more sophisticated and can sometimes be difficult to detect. Residents should be aware of their surroundings, look for anything that may be suspicious and monitor their accounts often.
Anyone with information can contact 410-313-STOP. Police urge the public to call 911 if an ATM or other automated card reader appears to have been tampered with.