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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend July 5, 2006 ATM fraud spree targets several local debit-card users From staff reports Local law enforcement and banking officials are warning consumers to carefully monitor their use of debit cards following the discovery that about 20 area residents had money stolen from their accounts. The number of customers affected by the fraud scheme is expected to grow, officials said, as more account holders verify the balances on bank statements. As of Monday, at least 18 people had reported thefts of hundreds of dollars from their savings and checking accounts, according to the Ashland Police Department. According to a departmental news release, it is believed that someone working at an Ashland location took personal information from the cards, including Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), then made duplicates of the cards and used them to make ATM cash withdrawls in Southern California. Detective Bon Stewart of the Ashland Police Department, who is heading the investigation locally, said he is working with California authorities to investigate the case. Stewart said the thefts were first reported to the police department beginning on Thursday, and have continued since then. The department release said that all financial institutions in the region that offer Debit/ATM cards have reported victims. "The suspicious thing is that (the victims) are all still in possession of their ATM cards," Stewart said. "That leads us to believe personal information was captured when they used their cards at a local store." Tom Unger, statewide spokesperson for Wells Fargo, said thefts have gone beyond Ashland and were reported in Medford, Phoenix and White City. When a customer swipes a card at a store, all encoded information is captured by the card machine. A business employee, a person with a company that provides the machines, or even a computer hacker can have access to the information, Stewart said. Most of the victims noticed the withdrawals from their accounts while accessing their accounts online, he said. More victims could come forward when people who don't do online banking receive their account statements in the mail, Stewart said. Ashland resident Kelsey Garbutt banks through the Benton County Schools Credit Union and had a total of $800 withdrawn from her accounts. A frequent debit card user, Garbutt said the thefts have made her rethink using her debit card instead of cash. Central Point resident Pamela Reynolds said she was driving home from a camping trip to Bend when she called to check on her accounts. A U.S. Bank representative told her the bank's fraud department had been trying to reach her about a $500 withdrawal from her account that was made in Southern California. "It was a shock. I'd been camping for three days without a care in the world," she said. "I actually, literally had to pull over. I cannot fathom the fact that people would do this." The police statement said that customers who believe they might have been a victim of such a theft should call their banks and cancel their current cards. Victims will be reimbursed by their banks, bank representatives said. A representative with Key Bank in Ashland said people should consider writing checks rather than using debit cards until the perpetrator or perpetrators can be caught. She also recommended online banking, rather than relying on monthly bank statements, as a method for monitoring accounts. People with concerns should call their banks' customer service numbers or visit their banks' Web sites, she advised. Stewart said card users should never share their personal identification numbers with others, should be aware of people standing behind them in check-out lines who might be watching them enter their PINs, and should not let a store employee take the card out of sight. Although it's less convenient, people also could consider writing checks or using cash. Suspected victims are being asked to contact Stewart at the Ashland Police Department by calling 482-5211, ext. 2823. Material from the Ashland Daily Tidings was used in this report. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Casino Reviews