Glen Cove Police Find Skimming Device on ATM

Detectives with the Glen Cove Police Department discovered a skimming device on the ATM inside the 7-Eleven on 194 Glen Street in Glen Cove, authorities said.

The device was uncovered by Dets. Brian Glennon and Eddy Linares Thursday, police said.

Skimming devices are used by thieves to gather credit and debit card information. Police say this is achieved by attaching an overlay, containing a pinhole camera, on the access door. This overlay deceptively appears as though it is part of the ATM. The skimmer records the debit and credit card information, and the pinhole camera records the PIN number the victim enters. This gives thieves the victims’ credit card and PIN numbers. Armed with this information, thieves can damage a person’s credit in a matter of minutes, police warn.

The skimmer removed from the 7-Eleven by Glen Cove Police would have had to be retrieved by the thieves in order to access the information, authorities said. Because this particular device was recovered by the officers, the credit card numbers were not compromised, Lt. John Nagle said.

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Nagle offered tips to protect against ATM scams.

“The first thing a person should do when using an ATM is to inspect the ATM for any unusual items installed in or around the keypad,” Nagle said, in a press release.

“Many of the counterfeit devices are installed with double sided tape over the access door,” he noted. “Give the access door a little tug. If it moves, notify the bank and the police.”

Another pointer: “Always cover the keypad with your other hand when entering your PIN number,” Nagle said. “This way if the ATM has an illegal pinhole camera, it can’t capture your PIN number while you are entering it.”

And, Nagle notes, “although officers removed this device before the credit information was obtained, we do not know if these thieves were replacing the device every few days.”

If you used this particular ATM at this 7-Eleven, police advise checking your accounts for any unusual activity. “Immediately notify your bank or credit card provider if you notice any suspicious activity,” Nagle said

And if you think your password or PIN has been compromised, change it. “Make sure to check your credit reports for any strange activity,” Nagle said. “If you notice strange activity, notify your bank [or] credit card provider immediately, and notify the police.”

GCPD Photos:

1. The compromised ATM
2. The skimming device which was overlaid over the access door of the ATM
3. The pinhole camera that was taped over the keypad which would capture your pin number being entered

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