'Skimmers' Found at Two Harford County ATMs

ABERDEEN, MD — Electronic devices known as “skimmers” were recently found on ATMs at two credit unions, but they were spotted and removed before customers’ banking information was compromised, officials said.

Skimming devices were discovered March 10 within hours of their installation at two ATMs operated by APG Federal Credit Union, the business said.

The devices were found at drive‐up ATMs at the credit union’s Aberdeen branch on Beards Hill Road and Edgewood branch on Pulaski Highway.

Credit union officials said the devices were removed immediately and law enforcement was contacted. All APGFCU ATMs were taken offline so they could be inspected for tampering. By March 11, all ATMs had been inspected and no other skimming devices were found.

“We intercepted the devices before the perpetrators could return to retrieve any data they were attempting to record,” said Brian Wilcox, senior vice president of marketing. "We routinely monitor our ATMs for tampering. The security of our members and others who access our services is our number one priority."

Attempts of ATM skimming should not be mistaken for "hacking." Neither member accounts nor any credit union information security systems were hacked.

Learn more about ATM and debit card safety.

The skimming devices are able to capture a credit or debit card’s electronic data while cameras attached to them may capture the user putting in their PIN.

Not sure what a card-skimming device looks like? This website shows various skimmers on ATMs, so you know what to look for in the future.

And as a Patch reader shared, it’s not a bad idea to use cash at gas stations and other spots where thieves might have an opportunity to attach skimming devices.

Banking websites and police have tips to help foil skimmers.

How to Protect Your ATM Card

Use secure ATM machines under video surveillance or inside a bank lobby. They’re less likely to be tampered with.

Pay careful attention to what the card reader and keypad normally look like on the ATMs you use most frequently.

Don’t use an ATM if the card reader appears to be added on, fits poorly, or is loose. Some thieves place a fake box over the card slot that reads and records account and PIN numbers.

Inspect the machine for items that were installed over or around the PIN pad of the ATM. Look for an attachment on the ATM that contains a small hole that is pointed in the direction of the PIN pad.

Lightly tug the area of the card slot. Most skimming devices are attached with double-sided tape for quick removal by the crooks.

Cover the keypad with your other hand while typing your PIN. This is the best way to ensure that your PIN number is not recorded.