Card Skimmer Found At East Bay Bank ATM

ALAMEDA, CA — Did you attend the Downtown Art & Wine Faire in Alameda last weekend and hit-up an ATM for extra cash? There's a possibility that your card number was skimmed and your PIN number recorded by a camera as you typed in the digits.

As crowds packed onto the island, Alameda Police report that a sophisticated skimmer was found on an ATM at Comerica Bank, located at 2416 Central Avenue. Police have not announced any arrests.

Photos released by police show how snuggly the fake faceplate fit on the ATM. In a photo showing the faceplate removed and laying on the keyboard, you can see additional signage. Can you see the camera? There's an arrow pointing to it in the photo above.

Alameda Police cite FICO data that show an eight percent increase in manipulated ATMs and point-of-sales devices in 2017. Police offer the following tips to avoid becoming a victim:

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS INSIDE: Whenever possible, conduct your business inside of a bank or gas station.

LOOK BEFORE YOU INSERT: Take a good look at an ATM or point-of-sales devices and ask yourself, “Does anything look different?” Look for signs of tampering; broken seals, tape, glue marks, machine scratches, etc.

TRUST YOUR TOUCH: Give ATM card readers and equipment around cash or receipt dispensers a wiggle to see if anything is loose or seems out of place. Authentic card readers and equipment should be firm and stay intact with the machine. Criminals have even placed fake keyboards on top of real ones, so feel free to inspect. If you are finding it difficult to insert your card, be wary.

BE SECRETIVE: Give yourself a little extra protection by using your free hand to block/conceal your PIN number as you type it in.

Meanwhile, police recommend that you check your bank statement and watch for fraud activity. Always. Even if you didn't use the compromised ATM.

-Images via Alameda Police