Crime & Safety
Leesburg Police Seek Information on ATM "Skimming" Suspects
Leesburg police are trying to identify a suspect who is thought to have placed 'skimming' devices on two SunTrust drive-thru ATM machines in Leesburg and Stafford County.
Leesburg police are hoping to identify a suspect who is thought to have placed ‘skimming’ devices on SunTrust drive-thru ATM machines.
Two ATM machines were compromised Saturday, July 12. The first is located at the SunTrust bank in the Battlefield Shopping Center in Leesburg and the second on another SunTrust machine in Stafford County.
Skimmers are hidden devices attached to ATM card readers to steal personal information stored on cards and record PIN numbers.
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Similar incidents have occurred in and around the Northern Virginia area, including three reported skimming devices found on SunTrust ATMS in Fairfax County last week.
ATM users are encouraged to look closely at ATM machines when making financial transactions. Skimming devices may appear on the front of machines or may be affixed loosely to machines with tape.
Find out what's happening in Leesburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Technology reviewer Tom’s Guide sets forth five tips to help identify ATM skimmers:
“Look around the ATM vestibule for places where a scammer could hide a tiny camera, such as a brochure rack.”
“Take a close look at the keypad. Try to see if there is a fake overlay on top of it. Maybe the keypad looks thicker than usual. You probably won't be able to detect the really top-notch PIN-pad overlays, but it doesn't hurt to check.”
“Look over the entire ATM for parts that don't match in styling, color or material. Krebs said scammers sometimes place a fascia (a large form-fitting mold) over the business area of the original ATM. The fascia will contain the skimmer and camera.”
“Try to jiggle the card reader. If it moves, so should you — to another ATM.”
“Cover your hands when you enter your PIN. It's one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself from an ATM scammer's hidden camera.”
Anyone having information regarding the identity of these subjects is asked to contact Detective Chris Vogel at (703) 771-4524 or cvogel@leesburgva.gov.
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