Secret Service connects dozen Knox area 'skimming' incidents

Secret Service connects dozen Knox area 'skimming' incidents

By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- The Secret Service is narrowing down which ATMs are being used in more than 200 cases of debit card fraud in the Knox area. Crooks have gotten away with more than $200,000 in recent weeks. 

Now, investigators have discovered a connection between a dozen cases, all in Knox County. A Knoxville Secret Service agent told 6 News Wednesday that in the connected cases, the victims used some of the same ATMs.

The agent said the ATMs weren't connected to a bank. Instead, they involved stand alone convenience banking systems.

The Secret Service has surveillance video of the thief installing a skimming device on the ATM with a card reader and keypad mounted over the actual ATM equipment. Investigators hope to release the enhanced video soon.

In each of those cases, the victims were never able to withdraw money from their accounts and left thinking the ATM was broken. 

What they didn't know is, they'd just typed all of their information into the crook's skimmer.

The Secret Service believes the crook who committed this debit card fraud has left the area.

However, if you were a victim, the Secret Service says you should change your account number, not just your pin, because the thieves still have your information.

You may also want to file a police report.  

The Secret Service agent also says if you pay close attention to the ATM you're using, you can probably spot a skimming device.

The agent says the device will be protruding from the ATM. It may also feel loose if you shake it.

In some cases, the skimmer is a different color from the actual ATM.