Alexandria Man Guilty In $1.2M Skimming Device Scheme

An Alexandria man has pleaded guilty to bank fraud Tuesday in a $1.2 million skimming device scheme.

Roberto De Miranda Martinez, 43, targeted ATM machines in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. He had been caught and arrested while installing a skimming device on an ATM in Colonial Heights, Virginia in January. According to prosecutors, he would use the skimming device to obtain ATM card data and clone cards. Between last August and January, he fraudulently withdrew funds with stolen credit or debit card numbers.

An FBI investigation uncovered $1.2 million in losses from the scheme. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office, Colonial Heights Police and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Police Department assisted with the investigation.

The defendant faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced on Aug. 1.

Skimming devices are attached to machines with card readers such as ATMs and gas pumps. These devices capture credit card, debit card, PIN and account numbers. as well as other information stored
on the cards' magnetic stripes.

Here are some tips from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to help you identify skimming devices and prevent you from becoming a victim of fraud.

• Do not use an ATM or a credit or debit card reader if anything looks suspicious, such as loose or extra parts. Alert the machine owner or police immediately.
• Avoid ATMs in remote places, especially if the area is not well lit or not visible to security cameras.
• Go elsewhere if you see a sign directing you to only one of multiple ATMs in a location. It could be the machine that was tampered with by a crook.
• Cover the keypad when typing your PIN number.
• Regularly check your bank and credit card accounts for unauthorized transactions, even small transactions.