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http://www.omniture.com --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games August 12, 2006 Dollar Tree ATM fraud in Calif. By Robert Plain Ashland Daily Tidings A computer scam that ensnared hundreds of Valley residents robbed California customers bank accounts as well. Detective Bon Stewart, of the Ashland Police Department, confirmed that along with Dollar Tree stores in Ashland and White City, branches of the discount chain store in Modesto and Carmichael, Calif., were also affected by the crime. Other stores were also involved beyond Dollar Tree in other locations, Stewart said. In the Rogue Valley, only the Dollar Tree Stores were compromised. Federal authorities, including the Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are now handling the case. Thieves stole the ATM pin numbers of Dollar Tree customers after they had used the pin pad machines to pay for purchases at the retail store, police believe. In the Rogue Valley, 269 victims reported money stolen from their bank accounts. More than 50 percent of all thefts statewide occurred at the Ashland store, Stewart said, for a total of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. California was hit to an even greater extent. Modesto police said more than 600 people were defrauded of more than $500,000, the Sacramento Bee reported. Tim Reid, spokesperson for the Dollar Tree Stores, said they are working closely with law enforcement. The exact method used to obtain the pin numbers is still unknown. Staff writer Robert Plain can be reached at 482-3456 x. 226 or [email protected] . Current Comments: For all of you out there using your ATM cards as Debit cards! STOP DOING IT! If your card has a visa or MC logo on it, ALWAYS use it as a credit card. Why? Because you get the benefits of the credit card. You can dispute charges, the transaction doesn't have a pin number that allows it to be used by others and a host of other reasons. JUST SAY NO TO DEBIT CARDS! Also keep in mind MANY businesses will promote debit card use, as they don't have to pay a fee, but if it is stolen you LOSE Mark Smith - Ashland, OR - August 14th, 7:40 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.