Some motherf*ck*r at a Ventura ATM (500 miles south) took $500 out of my checking account yesterday

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Went to the bank with a check in my hand from one of my clients.

Put in my debit card, got a message on the screen to call the number on the back of the card.

Turns out that someone at an ATM in Ventura took out $500 yesterday. Say what you want about Chase...their fraud protection department caught it.

They cancelled by debit card and are sending a replacement. They are going to credit back the $500.

Without knowing how, when, and where this happened, they said the most likely scenario was that someone had one of those cards you slip into an ATM immediately after someone makes a transaction that reads their account info.

Nice fucking start to the week. Really nice. But they caught it and I will get my money back so that's what matters.

So how is your day?

:grouphug:

[skypilot]

1. "...cards you slip into an ATM immediately after someone..."

I've never heard of this but thanks for the info. Every time I use an ATM I half expect to see a big chunk of change missing from my account. So far it hasn't happened but after reading your post I'm one step closer to keeping my cash under the mattress.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. Yep...you use the card, they're right behind you, they use their card, there's all your info

And you never have any idea that the person in line behind you could be preparing to do that.

[freshwest]

4. Those swiping cards made the news here a few years ago. I never use ATM's for that reason.

You can buy them online, legally.

:hide:

Glad your bank did the right thing. Mine always has.

:hi:

And so, what could have been a disaster was averted.

[saras]

9. Anyone have links to the "swiping cards"?

I could find no information on them online.

I did find http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/InPerson/atm_scams.htm">this nice list of scam types that have been documented. Not the most coherent site, but lots of good examples. Nothing like a card that can read your card data afterwards by inserting it.

There are devices they stick onto the ATM itself that read your card data and take a picture of you entering your PIN - those are the nasty ones, but they're actually attached to the machine. Although if you go around trying to tear the front off of every ATM before you use it, you're liable to end up in trouble as often as you end up discovering a scam.

The other nasty one is where they put a camera on the PIN pad all day, then dig through the day's receipts and match time of day to the PIN pictures.

Crazy-ass stuff. Maybe the swiping card is a misreading of the attached reader. They're really small, slap on the front of the card reader, and are supposed to just look like part of the ATM.

You can take cash from me, but you have to be waving a gun. I don't run into a lot of those, and if I ran into one, I think I'd want some cash on hand to give them.

[freshwest]

12. MY post wasn't clear when I re-read it. The devices that read the card are for sale online...

For businesses like restaurants. Here is a link of a recent story of how it's being done at ATM's here, but with possession of the card momentarily to create a clone:

http://www.king5.com/news/consumer/Identity-thieves-using-portable-credit-card-skimmers-83602482.html

I see what you're talking about:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/09/v-printerfriendly/1738473/puyallup-man-sentenced-for-atm.html

I only do swiping transactions at retailers with credit cards as the bank protects me from fraud for free. I've eliminated using my debit card for anything.

I've avoided using cards at restaurants for years because I found out a score of years ago that when that card is sent to be processed, it's a matter of trust as to what's being done out of sight. People were complaining about unknown charges on their accounts.

It's possible AV visited somewhere and that's how his information was scanned, then they reproduced his card to use at the Ventura ATM. Not necessarily a theft related to the ATM itself, but I may be on the wrong trail here. It's not necessarily the owner doing it; these little tricks have been traced to just 'enterprising' individuals who obtained employment as wait staff and find moments sto do this in the hustle of business.

I just keep things simple, because I can't afford any shenanigans with my funds. Best to stop the problem at the source.

[AtomicKitten]

3. They have security cameras at ATMs.

I hope they got a nice shot of the person that tapped your account.

Glad to hear you won't be out any money on this.

[RebelOne]

5. Bank of America did the same thing for me.

I know there are many BofA haters here, but its fraud protection service is excellent.

[freshwest]

7. +1

[Throd]

6. Same thing happened to me last week to the tune of $424.04

I got my replacement card today.

[freshwest]

8. That's an odd amount they stole. Glad you got it back.

[tblue]

10. Dang! I never heard of that either.

Glad you got reimbursed. Who sells a criminal card like that? I hope the banks come up with a solution to address that.

Awful. I hope the rest of your week is better.

[HopeHoops]

11. My day was great. I used a stolen debit card to get $500 and then the fuckers cancelled the card!!!

:grr: