HOWELL – The Howell Police Department is investigating an ATM “skimming” case which has compromised hundreds of account holders from several countries and has resulted in more than $70,000 worth of fraudulent ATM withdrawals.
Police said an ATM “skimmer” is a device that is placed over an ATM card slot that appears to be a part of the ATM. The device captures the account information of every card that passes through it while allowing the customer to proceed with the transaction without interruption.
A secondary device, usually a pinhole camera or a false numerical pad that has been placed over the real numerical pad, captures the victim’s personal identification number as the customer enters it, according to police.
Police were notified of the theft and fraud on Sept. 11 by representatives of Manasquan Bank, 1050 Route 9, Howell. Bank representatives noticed that a surveillance camera that was affixed to the ATM was producing blurry images, according to a press release.
Further investigation revealed an individual placing some type of lip balm on the lens to distort the image. The two suspects proceeded to make numerous ATM withdrawals from multiple account holders in quick succession.
As the investigation progressed, Detective Robert Ortenzi determined that the same two suspects had also conducted numerous ATM withdrawals at Manasquan Bank, Newtons Corner Road, Howell; at branches of Manasquan Bank in Manasquan and Wall Township; at First Constitution Bank, Fair Haven; and at several other banks and ATM locations in the area.
Ortenzi began working with investigators from the Manasquan Police Department and determined that the same suspects had placed an ATM skimmer device at a Manasquan Bank branch in Manasquan during three incidents from Sept. 1-4, Sept. 8-11 and on Sept. 21, according to the press release.
During those times, the ATM skimmer captured the information of hundreds of accounts, thereby compromising their security, according to police.
Manasquan Bank employees in Manasquan located the device on Sept. 21 and removed it from the ATM. Bank representatives subsequently called police.
Police said that in Howell, more than 100 fraudulent transactions are believed to have been committed by the same two suspects between Sept. 9 and Oct. 1.
Many more transactions were conducted outside Howell, but in Monmouth County. At least one transaction occurred in Middlesex County. These transactions have totaled more $70,000 and the amount is likely to grow much larger as the investigation expands, according to the press release.
The majority of cardholders whose accounts have had money fraudulently withdrawn are from other countries, including Canada, New Zealand and Australia, police said.
They are not the accounts whose cards were stolen via the skimmer found in Manasquan; those accounts are subject to fraud at any time.
Police said it is imperative for anyone who used the ATM at Manasquan Bank, 185 E. Main St., Manasquan, during the dates mentioned above, to notify their bank and take immediate action regarding their accounts as recommended by their bank to avoid fraud.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents may email Ortenzi at rortenzi@howellpolice.org or call at 732-938-4575, ext. 2894. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Howell’s anonymous tip line, www.p3tips.com.
