Credit Card Skimmer Found In Yorkville

YORKVILLE, IL -- An ATM skimming device was placed in the 0-99 block of West Countryside Parkway, and discovered on Sunday, according to a police report. Such devices, which can look like normal card inserts, have become more common in recent weeks.

No reports of credit card fraud have been reported in relation to skimmers, said Police Chief Richard Hart. "We're looking at the video to try to see who placed [the device] there."

Oftentimes, according to Hart, the perpetrators will place a skimmer device on an ATM and retrieve it several hours later, before suspicions are risen. "We just got lucky that someone saw it and called," Hart said.

Card skimmer have been around for years, but improving technology can make it easier for thieves to build and use these devices. Today, many of them can slip over the real card slot, fooling ATM users as many of them look real.

PC Mag reported that potentially "the scariest part is that some skimmers don't prevent the ATM or credit card reader from functioning properly."

Hart estimated that the Yorkville Police Department has not found such a device in two or three years, though the department gets reports on identity theft a few times a week.

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