Stay alert for thieves at the ATM
Crooks using new methods to get your money

Automated teller machines have become the target of thieves who have devised a new way to steal cash from victims.

Using an electronic device called a skimmer, a customer's card information can be captured and stored, along with the personal identification number at the point of transaction.

Crooks use a device that is designed to look like part of the ATM. The device is attached where customers slide the card into the machine.

The device reads the information and stores it for the suspect, who later retrieves it and encodes the account information on a blank card. The suspect can then withdraw funds from ATMs using the victim's account information.

Recently, information captured by a skimmer on a Thousand Oaks ATM led to 50 customers' accounts being accessed in several locations throughout Southern California. The skimmer was attached to a Bank of America ATM between April 28 and 29.

If a customer encounters any suspicious device on an ATM, or if anything appears out of place on the machine, they should not use it.

The customer should notify bank officials or the party responsible for the particular machine.