BANK of America customers have had their hard-earned cash stolen through an invisible device hidden in ATMS.
Users could hear their money being dispensed, but the bills were trapped inside the rigged machines.
Lonut Aurel Iova is accused of rigging ATM machines in Plano, Texas, so that customers couldn’t get their money[/caption]
Cash trapping uses metal plates placed inside ATM cash slots, the fittings block bills and trap your money[/caption]
Pictures released by the Plano Police Department show the difference between a cash-trapped ATM and a safe one[/caption]
A scammer at the Bank of America in Plano, Texas, used a long object to trap the money in an ATM scheme known as “cash trapping.”
Bank of America customer Jonathan Hogue tried to withdraw $700 from the bank, but the cash never appeared, NBC affiliate KXAS reported.
Another man, Ray McCormick, lost $100 in the same way.
Both customers left the bank empty-handed and blaming machine malfunctions for the problem — until police took a closer look.
Cops noticed that a barely visible metal plate was fitted over the dispenser slot of the ATM, launching an investigation into the person who set the trap.
“Cash trapping involves placing a barrier on the outside of the ATM that prevents the machine from dispensing withdrawn cash to the account holder,” PPD said.
Hogue said, “It looks just like a part of the ATM. I just thought it was a door that was going to pop up and give me the money.”
Plano Police Officer Jerry Milton told KXAS that the devices fit the dispensers “perfectly” and are designed to look like they’re part of the ATM.
“It’s attached by a double-sided tape or similar substance and it has a special tool that is handmade by the perpetrator to remove the device,” he told the outlet.
The scam had already occurred twice at the bank. Although they only received two reports, police believed there were more.
Bank of America didn’t immediately return The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
SUSPECT CAUGHT
The thief was caught on surveillance footage smoking a cigarette and removing the stolen money from the ATM with the special tool, according to pictures released by the police.
“This individual was waiting for the person to leave and as soon as they left he would come take the device off, take the cash out and possibly be reinstalling it for the next victim,” Milton said.
Eventually, Romanian national Ionuț Aurel Iova, 39, was arrested near Houston last month after he was identified as the suspect caught on camera.
What is a skimmer device?
A skimmer device is a fraud tool designed to steal sensitive information from credit or debit cards during transactions.
- Imagine a skimmer device as a sneaky thief that hides on ATMs or card machines.
- Its job is to secretly steal your credit or debit card information when you use it for a transaction.
- These devices are like tiny spies that can copy your card details, including the card number and PIN, without you even realizing it.
- Skimmers can be cleverly disguised to look just like the regular card reader, making them hard to spot.
- Once they have your information, bad guys can use it to make fake cards or buy things without your permission, causing a lot of trouble and stress.
- It’s important to always be cautious and check for anything unusual on card machines before using them to protect yourself from these sneaky devices.
He was wanted in Hungary for drug-related offenses, in Maryland for larceny, and had 56 warrants in Canada linked to theft and fraud, police said.
Plano police warned customers to inspect machines before use, shield their PINs, and report any failed withdrawals.
ATM FRAUD SCHEMES
Cash trapping is the latest scheme invented by criminals trying to take money from innocent citizens.
Scammers increasingly turn to low-tech methods that require simple tools but could yield thousands of dollars in stolen cash.
Gas station customers have reported seeing skimming devices on gas pumps, designed to steal their card information.
The sneaky tools have even been spotted at stores like Walgreens and CVS.
Other scammers pose as bank officials to trick customers into sharing their personal information, leading one Bank of America customer to lose his life savings in a matter of hours.
Bank tips for avoiding scams
As scams become more sophisticated with the use of artificial intelligence, it is important you know how to spot a scam:
- Be skeptical of online deals that seem too good to be true, especially on social media.
- Scammers will often use tactics to make you panicked so you make quick decisions – be cautious if you are told to take immediate action and verify who has contacted you.
- Chase Bank warns customers to “never return any unexpected funds without calling Chase first.”
- Never send money to someone you have only spoken to online or by phone as this is likely a romance scam.
- Unless you 100% know who you are talking to, never give someone remote access to your device.
- Never accept help from strangers at an ATM and always be vigilant when making withdrawals.
- Do not send money or click any links indicating that you have won a prize.
Source: Chase.com
