Evidence of ATM tampering has been uncovered in Enfield and photos shown to town police Chief Tyree Davis indicate one of the people possibly involved matches photos and videos from a successful tampering case in Weldon.
Davis would only confirm the machine was an outside ATM. Asked for a specific location, the chief said the United States Secret Service has asked the department to withhold the specific site as well as releasing any further photos or videos on the matter since Weldon has already released them.
The placement of the skimmer and keypad cover in Weldon was the first reported in the state, Davis said the Secret Service told him. The Enfield attempt is now the second.
In a statement Davis said since a card skimmer was located in an ATM in Weldon the department has been checking local machines.
Around noon Wednesday, the department spoke with the Secret Service about one of the machines being tampered with.
The federal agency determined through the machine’s video system someone did attempt to place a card skimmer on the ATM that morning but it was not immediately clear if they were successful.
The maintenance crew for the ATM was contacted and responded.
Neither the maintenance worker or department was able to locate a skimmer.
As a precaution, however, the department and Secret Service asked the maintenance worker to change the components of the ATM where a skimmer could have been installed.
The previously installed components were seized by the department to be evaluated by the Secret Service.
In the statement, Davis said, “Even though fraud is more prevalent during the holiday season we ask everyone to keep a check on their bank accounts not only now but throughout the year. If anyone finds any discrepancies in their accounts they are asked to first contact their financial institution and then their local law enforcement agency.”
Davis said the department will continue to check local ATMs in an effort to locate card skimmers and prevent financial card crimes. “We ask that if you see anyone tampering with or at an ATM or at an ATM for an extended period of time to please contact your local law enforcement agency.”
Davis said people using ATMs can run a test before placing their cards in the slot by pulling on the component. “If it’s loose, if it comes out easy, it’s not supposed to be there.”
ATM users can use a hand or wallet to cover the one entering the PIN in the event a camera is installed in the keypad cover, he said.