Rash of Shoulder Surfing Pin Code Thefts Prompts Warning

LOS ANGELES, CA City Attorney Mike Feuer warned the public today to be on alert for thieves who look over the shoulders of ATM users in an effort to steal account PIN numbers and money.

Feuer said there have been reports throughout California of “shoulder surfing” crimes in which a thief peers over the shoulder of someone at an ATM to learn their PIN, and if a person leaves before completely logging out, the thief quickly punches in the stolen PIN to withdraw cash from the account.

Feuer said he recently filed a case against two people accused of stealing or helping to steal PINs and money from two separate victims on Jan. 8 at a Bank of America in Tarzana. The victims reported stolen amounts of $200 and $500 after using the ATM.

The suspects were arrested later that day after they were reported to be acting suspiciously at another Bank of America branch in Woodland Hills, with one charged with identity theft and petty theft and the other accused of acting as a lookout.

Feuer urged the public to pay attention to their surroundings when using ATMs, and to make sure they have completely logged out of their accounts before they leave.

He also recommended that ATM users shield the keypad as they input their PIN and to check for unusual devices such as cameras installed by thieves to spy on ATM users and “skimmers” that masquerade as bank card readers but are actually stealing information.

City News Service; Photo: www.flickr.com