Johnston police discover skimming device in local ATM
JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — The Johnston Police Department said they found an ATM skimming device in a Cumberland Farms gas station on Tuesday.
They said the small device was fixed to the Citizens Bank ATM terminal and most users would not give it a second glance.
The devices can also be fixed to self-check registers to obtain personal information from your cards.
Johnston police offered the following steps to take before using an ATM or card reader:
- Scan the area for hidden cameras that may be recording you typing in your PIN.
- Compare the card reader keypad to the rest of the machine. The colors and styles should all match.
- Assess for obvious signs of tampering including broken or dented panels and security seals.
- Nudge the card reader keypad. Card skinners and fake keypads are meant to be removed so if it feels loose, it may be a skimmer.
The department urges anyone who may have used the ATM at the Killingly Street Cumberland Farms to check with their financial institutions for unauthorized transactions or signs of fraud.
