[StBernard] Suspect sought in ATM scam in Slidell, Baton Rouge

[Westley Annis]

Suspect sought in ATM scam in Slidell, Baton Rouge

By Paul Rioux
St. Tammany bureau 

Authorities are searching for a man who placed a "skimming device" on ATMs
in Slidell and Baton Rouge to record customers' account information, which
has been used to make "substantial" unauthorized withdrawals, police said. 

The two-part device, which includes a card reader and a video camera, was
placed on an ATM at Chase Bank at 1431 Gause Blvd. in Slidell and another
Chase branch in Baton Rouge several times last month, police said. 

Police recently began receiving complaints from customers whose monthly
statements showed unexpected withdrawals, said Sgt. Don Kelly, a spokesman
for Baton Rouge police, which is investigating the case with Slidell police.


"We're finding more unauthorized withdrawals every day," Kelly said. "I
can't release the amount that has been stolen so far, but it's becoming
quite substantial." 

The scam involves placing a card reader over the ATM's card slot to record
the account information. A video camera is used to view the customers
entering their PIN or personal-identification number. 

"Once they have your PIN and your account number, they've essentially got
the keys to your bank account," Kelly said. 

He said Baton Rouge police recovered the "skimming device" on Nov. 29 after
a customer discovered it on an ATM at the Chase branch at 250 W. State St.
near Louisiana State University. 

Detectives and bank officials determined it had been used on the same ATM on
Nov. 17, Kelly said. 

The investigation revealed the same device or a similar one had been used at
the Chase branch on Gause Boulevard in Slidell on Nov. 15, 18 and 22. 

Slidell police have identified one victim who reported an unauthorized
withdrawal made in Anaheim, Calif., after using the Chase ATM in Slidell,
said Capt. Rob Callahan, who did not know how much was taken. 

Kelly said he did not know how the thieves received the account information
or made the withdrawals. In other cases across the country, scammers have
used wireless transmitters to obtain the information, which they then used
to make counterfeit ATM cards. 

The card reader was designed to blend in with the ATM and that the video
camera was positioned so someone making a withdrawal could not see it, he
said. 

"The victims had no idea anything unusual had occurred," he said. "The
skimming device did not interrupt or delay their transactions in any way." 

Despite the sophistication of the scam, the suspect made no attempt to
conceal his identity while installing the device, giving police excellent
surveillance photos from the ATM. 

"We're not sure what to make of that, but we're glad he did it," Kelly said.
"These photographs are the best leads we have right now." 

Anyone with information about the suspect's identity can call Baton Rouge
police at (225) 389-8362 or Slidell police at (985) 643-3131. 

Kelly advised all bank customers, even those who don't do business at Chase,
to check their account balances on the Internet at least once a week. 

"Time is of the essence," he said. "If you wait until you get your bank
statement 30 days later, there might not be anything left in your account."

He also advised people to shield the key pad with their offhand while typing
in their PINs. 

"It's like those poker tournaments on TV where the players take a quick peek
at their cards by turning over a corner so no one else can see what they've
got," he said. "That's the same way you should treat your PIN." 

(Paul Rioux can be reached at prioux at timespicayune.com or at (985) 645-2852.
)