SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police are urging holiday shoppers to take an extra moment when using an ATM this holiday season after finding data gathering devices on at least seven ATMs at banks across the city.
Most of the devices, known as skimmers, which fit over the part of the ATM where you insert your card, were found at bank drive-up ATMs.
"As it's going through, it's capturing your info as it's on its way to the ATM," said Sgt. Javier Salazar, with the San Antonio Police Department.
In addition to the skimmers, several of the ATMs had a second device which, to unassuming victims, looked like part of the machine, but had a small pinhole camera attached.
"It's angled downward toward the keypad, and it's capturing your finger strokes," said Salazar. "They may not give this a second glance. They're going to run their card through it, get their cash and be on their way to do their Christmas shopping. When in reality, thieves are making off with their information as they're busy doing what they do."
Police have not made any arrests yet and are waiting on surveillance video from many of the locations which they will share with federal agencies.
"The banks are definitely working with us on this, and I would just about guarantee you, they're doing what they need to do on their end to safeguard their clients' information," Salazar said.
Salazar advises everyone to always cover their hands as they enter their PIN, and if possible, withdraw money with a teller or use an ATM inside a bank.
SAPD plans to release some of the surveillance video to the public to aid in the search of the criminals who would face charges of unauthorized acquisition of financial information, along with other possible charges.
Update: On Friday, police released images of the suspects (view slideshow). Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 224-(7867).