Lakeland Bank In Bloomingdale Hit With Possible ATM Skimmer

BLOOMINGDALE, NJ— Bloomingdale Police are investigating a possible ATM skimmer at the Main Street Lakeland Bank, police said on Facebook.

Police said the device was installed between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, and urge all residents to check their bank statements. "Several" incidents have been reported, according to the Facebook post.

Even if no unauthorized charges have been made, police recommend changing all PINs.

Another Lakeland Bank location has been affected by a possible ATM skimmer. Jefferson Police said they've received 20 complaints so far, stemming from the Berkshire Valley Road branch.

ATM skimming is similar to identity theft: thieves use hidden electronics installed on ATMs to steal the personal information stored on your card. They then record the PIN that you key in, giving the thieves full access to your accounts.

It can be hard to tell if an ATM has a skimmer on it. The device, which is pictured above, looks almost identical to a real ATM card slot.

Lakeland Bank has not yet returned a request for comment or issue a statement, but has been replying to customers on their Facebook page saying they are working with law enforcement to fix the issue.

Many customers posted their appreciation, saying their issues were resolved quickly and the money was already back in their accounts. Others complained that the bank was not being transparent enough about what was happening.

Image via Angus Fraser, Flickr