HoCo Police: Look Before You Swipe at Credit Card Readers

The Howard County Police Department reported that it charged two Baltimore men in connection with an attempt to steal credit card information from an ATM machine in Columbia.

At 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, a police officer tried to initiate contact with a man whose face was partly covered at the SunTrust Bank ATM in the 8200 block of Snowden River Parkway. The suspect—later identified as Alin Tomescu, 35, of the 2800 block of Orleans Street in Baltimore—ran away, police said.

Following a brief pursuit, police took Tomescu into custody along with a second man who was waiting nearby, according to the department’s report.

Tomescu and Viorel Tomulescu, 52, of the 100 block of North Streeper Street in Baltimore, were charged with possessing a skimming device and conspiracy to commit theft, the report said.

Upon investigating, police said that authorities found a “card skimming device” that had recently been put on the ATM. Officials said that there was no evidence any information had been compromised.

Police said this about card skimming:

“According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, card skimming is a crime that involves installing a device, which is often difficult to detect, that records account information when a card is swiped at an ATM. Criminals then use the data to access the victim’s bank account. These devices are sometimes found at ATMs, gas pumps and other point of sale locations.

“Police encourage residents to be vigilant when using credit and bank cards at automated machines. Skimming devices have become more sophisticated and can sometimes be difficult to detect.

“Residents should be aware of their surroundings, look for anything that may appear to be suspicious and monitor their accounts often. Police urge the public to call 911 if an ATM or other automated card reader appears to have been tampered with.”

Since the devices can be difficult to detect, police advise citizens to check their account statements regularly.

Tomescu was beign held at the Howard County Detention Center with bail set at $25,000, according to police, who said Tomulescu was released on his own recognizance.

Photo Credit: Howard County Police Department. The device was located over the card reader and in the sign above the ATM, according to police.