News

New all-in-one skimming device discovered on Calif. ATM

April 25, 2012

If only crooks would put their ingenuity to a better use: A disturbingly clever all-in-one skimmer design has come to the attention of authorities in California.

According to an article at Krebs on Security, the device was discovered on an ATM in the San Fernando Valley by an observant bank customer, who reported her find to police.

The skimmer includes a card reader and video camera, both powered by a single mobile phone battery. A pinhole on the right hand side of the skimmer allows a camera to record the pin number as it is entered.

A customer looking directly at the device could very easily miss seeing the hole (photos of the device may be viewed at the Krebs website). The device time-stamps card numbers and PINs collected from unwitting customers so they can be matched up later by the thieves.

Police in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas are still seeking leads to help identify the person or persons responsible for installing the skimmer. The inside of the device is marked with a numeral "5," which suggests there could be at least four other similar devices in use. 

For more on this topic, visit our security research center.