Crime & Safety

Woburn Police Offer Tips to Protect Your Account from Skimmers

The Woburn Police Department offered tips on how to keep your bank account safe from criminals.

After a skimming device was discovered on a Bank of America ATM last week, several Woburn Patch readers asked what they can do to prevent their own bank accounts from being compromised.

According to the Woburn Police Department, the most important thing residents can do is stay alert when banking.

“We have dealt with skimming devices more frequently,” said Woburn Police Detective Ralph Coakley. “This isn’t the only time this has been reported in  Woburn. Unfortunately, it’s become more prevalent.”

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Coakley said it takes an experienced criminal just a short amount of time to plant a device on an ATM. A skimmer, designed to steal information off the magnetic strip of a debit card, requires two parts.

A device is placed over the ATM’s card reader, and a camera is usually placed in a way that captures customers’ PIN. Once those two pieces of information are gathered, a criminal can use it to recreate debit cards and illegally withdraw money.

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Because devices are difficult to see with the naked eye, the Woburn Police Department offered several tips to protect your account while banking.

  • Use your hand to cover your PIN as you enter it in the event a camera has been placed on the machine.
  • Check your balance frequently.
  • Try to stay away from ATMs in retail establishments such as restaurants, bars or small grocery stores because there is less security focused on the ATM itself.
  • Use ATMs you are familiar with.
  • Use ATMs with security systems. They are less likely to be targets.

Coakley also reminded residents to use general safety tips when using ATMs. He said residents should always be aware of their surroundings, and should not use ATMs at night in low-lighted areas.


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