St. Bernard and other parishes dealing with scammers who use devices to steal consumers’ debit card PIN number, then make withdrawals from bank accounts

St. Bernard and other local parishes are again dealing with scammers who have been using devices known as skimmers to steal consumers’ debit card PIN numbers and use that information to clone new cards and withdraw cash from ATM machines without the victim knowing about it, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“There has been a regional problem here lately but in fact it is a national problem in which roving groups seem to traverse the country gathering people’s debit card PIN numbers to use to withdraw money at ATMS” Pohlmann said. He added that people who use debit cards frequently should review their bank records to look for fraudulent activity on their accounts and notify their bank and local law enforcement agency.

Pohlmann added, “The victim still has their origninal debit card and won’t know anything has happeneed until they check their bank statement or try to use the debit card and find there isn’t enough money in the account to cover the purchase they are trying to make.’’

There have been about 25 reports to the Sheriff’s Office from St. Bernard Parish residents since Monday, complaining of fraudulent activity on their checking and savings accounts from withdrawals made with their debit card PIN number at ATM machines, Pohlmann said.

Much of the fraud in St. Bernard has been pinpointed to one gasoline outlet in Chalmette, but other stations in the New Orleans area including the West Bank and a number of banks have been affected, Pohlmann said.

It is believed scammers installed a skimmer device which over time collected PIN numbers from debit cards used at a certain gasoline pump there.

Each victim was hit for about $500 – $600 withdrawn from their accounts.

It also resembles the same problem this area faced roughly one year ago when numerous victims’ had their debit card information stolen and the used at ATMs for withdrawals, Pohlmann said.

Victims who report such a theft to a law enforcement agency are generally able to have the amount stolen reimbursed by their bank.

Investigation by the Sheriff’s Office working with other agencies and bank security officials has found the cloning of debit card PINS in St. Bernard was used for withdrawals from ATMS in the Orlando, Fla. area, Pohlmann said. That means the scammers in this group have already blown through the New Orleans area and moved on to Orlando, he said.

Bank security officials know of the problem and are trying to pinpoint areas where debit card information is being stolen, such as a gasoline station or other location.

No arrests have been made.

Skimming devices are a popular way for fraudsters to obtain credit card information. One spot often used for skimming devices is at gas stations.

Each device has a PIN number pad that fits exactly behind a real PIN pad and when an unsuspecting user punches in their PIN number it can be retrieved by a scammer, who then makes a clone of the debit card and can use it to make cash withdrawals at ATM machines anywhere.

A skimming device isn’t easily noticeable to the consumer. Anyone seeing something unusual on a gas station pump should report it to station officials. Also, Pohlmann said, it may be a good idea to go inside the gasoline outlet’s office and, if possible, use cash or give the debit card to a cashier rather than use it at the pump.