Police are warning Wells Fargo customers about a serial card skimming scam targeting people who use the bank’s ATMs.
Authorities in the Southern California city of Pasadena say that for the second time in a week, a card skimmer was discovered on a Wells Fargo ATM machine on 1000 block of Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena Star News reports.
Card skimmers are devices that look like a part of an ATM machine but secretly record the victim’s PIN and card number, allowing bad actors to make illegal transfers and payments later.
In a statement, Crime Prevention Officer Richard Lee of the South Pasadena Police Department recommends people in the area consider changing their PIN.
“Like the previous incident, the suspect was not able to retrieve the skimmer so it is unknown if the suspects were able to obtain any information… As a precaution, consider changing your PIN.”
Lee also said to watch out for “shoulder surfers,” or thieves that hover behind ATM users hoping to catch their PIN number so they can then steal their card, either by force or by distraction. Hidden cameras angled at the keypad have also been found.
“Before using an ATM, look closely at the machine. Thieves usually place a façade over (a) card reader and will come off if pulled.”
Generated Image: Midjourney