How Long Were 'Skimmers' Inside Bowie ATMs? Police Unsure

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BOWIE, MD — A technician working on ATM machines inside three Bowie convenience stores spotted illegal skimming devices, and authorities are not sure how long the skimmers may have been in place, says the city of Bowie.

Police last week warned residents that their banking information was at risk after cameras and skimmers were found on ATMs at these Bowie 7-Eleven stores: 3570 Crain Highway, 15700 Mount Oak Road, and 6860 Racetrack Road.

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

City officials said Monday that police don’t know how long the skimmers were in place or who might have installed the devices.

Bowie Police urge anyone who used one of the three hacked ATMs to contact their bank and check their monthly bank statements and recent activity. If residents find they have been a victim of a crime linked to the compromised ATMs, they should report it to the Bowie Police Department by calling 301-352-1200.

The first skimmer and camera setup was found Thursday at the 7-Eleven at 6860 Racetrack Road, where an ATM service technician called police to report the machine inside the store had been rigged with credit card skimming devices. The technician removed a camera from above the PIN pad, as well as a scanning device from the credit card slot.

Later that day, police were called to the other two 7-Eleven stores, where the technician had located the same sort of skimmers on ATM machines inside those stores.

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.

Police recommend checking your accounts regularly to make sure there is no suspicious activity. For more tips on ATM safety, visit www.cityofbowie.org/ATMsafety.

In Bowie, crime alerts such as the ATM scam and other important information are shared via Alert Bowie 2.0. Register for the service at www.cityofbowie.org/alertbowie to receive alerts by text message, email, and in some cases by telephone call. For more information about Alert Bowie 2.0, call 301-809-3032 or email ucooper@cityofbowie.org.

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.