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On December 17th and December 18th, deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office were called to two separate truck stops along the I-5 corridor after ATM skimming devices were located. The first machine was located at the Flying J near Aurora and the second was located at the Pilot Truck Stop in Brooks.
Deputies believe the skimming machines are related and may have been affixed to the ATM's by the same suspect. ATM skimming machines are sophisticated electronics designed to read the magnetic strips on the back of ATM cards and in this case also video record the key pad as the unknowing victim enters their pin.
According to AARP..org there are 6 ways to protect you from ATM skimming;
* Go to the bank. Although not immune to skimming, ATMs at banks are typically more secure--with their own 24/7 camera surveillance--and better maintained. Machines at convenience stores and other non-bank locations account for the majority of ATM compromises.
* Inspect before using. Beware of ATMs whose card slots are a different color than the rest of the machine; have unusual equipment on the slot, keypad or sides, or overhead (which could hide a camera); or don't accept your card smoothly. If the slot is not securely attached, walk away. Newer ATMs have a flashing or steady light at the card slot. If it's obscured, suspect tampering.
* Hide it. When entering a PIN, cover your hand as you press the numbers to protect personal information.
* Keep close tabs on all payment cards. As with credit cards, most banks offer real-time alerts via text message or email on debit card transactions.
* Create a separate account. Open a smaller account, separate from your primary checking account, and use it exclusively for debit card transactions. If the account is skimmed, the lower balance would limit your losses.
* Lower your daily limit. Banks generally set a daily limit for ATM withdrawals, but you can request to have the amount of the limit reduced--say, $100 or less per day--to prevent scammers from making successive withdrawals within minutes.
The Sheriff's Office is seeking any witnesses or information regarding the man pictured. If you have information you can call our tip line at 503-540-8079 or you can submit an anonymous tip on our Facbook page at Facebook.com/MCSOInTheKnow by clicking submit a tip on the left side of the page.