Multiple Cases Of ATM Fraud Reported In Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Scammers stealing big bucks---and your personal information. Now they're doing it at your local ATM machines. ATM fraud is soaring across the country---with a recent spate here in Baltimore.
Meghan McCorkell has more on how you're being targeted.
Experts say criminals are stealing your bank account information---and they can do it faster than ever.
Joe Johnson got money out of an ATM along Boston Street in southeast Baltimore...but he didn't know scammers got there before he did.
"Somebody went into my account multiple times and withdrew $600 and attempted to get another $600," he said.
His card information and pin number were stolen. The scammers used a fake card at a suburban ATM to try and get to his money---and he isn't alone.
Dozens of neighbors on a Canton Facebook page were also victims. The source was traced back to the Boston Street ATM and another one on O'Donnell Square.
"How could it happen where they got my information and how did they actually figure out my pin to get into my account?" he said.
Security expert Gary Buclous says it's happening all the time.
"I've been in banking for 25 years and the last five years, it's got progressively worse," he said.
Scammers attach skimming devices to ATMs to instantly steal all your info. In the first half of the year, cases at bank ATMs soared 174%. At non-bank ATM's, it's up 317%.
So how can you protect yourself? Experts say before you ever put your card in the card reader, jiggle it to see if any device falls off. After that, look underneath it to make sure there are no extra wires.
"You will see a noticeable device that does not look right," Buclous said.
Advice Johnson says he will be taking.
"If it looks suspect, I'm going to walk to another ATM," he said.
Experts also suggest covering the keypad when you type in your pin number.
