Card Skimming Scam Discovered in Lower Merion

A card skimmer, an unauthorized device used to collect credit card data and personal PIN numbers, was discovered on an ATM at the Suburban Square , according to a Lower Merion Township news release issued at 4:50 p.m. on Friday.

The full township release is reprinted below:

The Lower Merion Police Department, after receiving a complaint this week from an on-site ATM technician at the Wells Fargo Bank in Suburban Square in Ardmore, is warning residents of a "card skimmer" scam in which thieves use a small camera to capture PIN numbers from ATM cards.

The Wells Fargo technician was checking on the machine after several complaints were reported to the bank that the card reader was not working correctly.

The technician discovered a black plate over the card reader, which is not a part of the ATM machine. He also found an additional piece of metal at the top of the machine - over the keypad - that appeared to be taped to the machine housing. There was a small pinhole in the metal which was directly over the keypad.

Once removed, it was obvious that this was a "card skimmer" - a small video camera used to obtain PIN numbers and personal credit card data.

Lower Merion Police urge residents to give extra attention to their personal bank accounts, and to observe the ATM machines at their local banks.

Neither representatives of Lower Merion Township nor a Wells Fargo representative were immediately available for additional comment.