News Flash

FREDERICK POLICE DEPARTMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 16, 2018

ILLEGAL SKIMMING DEVICES FOUND

FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick Police Department is investigating five incidents of illegal skimming devices found on ATM machines in the City of Frederick.  The Department is also releasing photos from two of the locations and is hoping the public can help us identify the person or persons in the photos. 

The skimming devices have been found at the following locations:

• December 29^th - Weis Grocery Store, 2 Old Camp Rd.
• January 10^th & 18^th - Weis Grocery Store, 448 Prospect Blvd.
• January 13^th - BB&T Bank, 1303 E. Patrick St.
• January 14^th - Weis Grocery Store, 199 Thomas Johnson Dr.

Anyone who utilized the above ATM machines is asked to please check your bank account for any unauthorized transactions and report it to your bank immediately.  The Frederick Police Department would like to thank Weis Grocery Stores, Loss Prevention Department for their proactivity and diligence in finding these devices. 

A credit/debit card skimming device is a small electronic device that can be attached or inserted illegally into a fuel dispenser or ATM. The device secretly records information from the credit/debit card transmitting it through Bluetooth wireless technology. The criminal is able to then download the information remotely from a nearby location.

More Information on skimming devices can be found on the following websites:

• FBI:     https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/atm-skimming
• Federal Trade Commission: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/06/avoid-skimmers-pump
• Nationwide:      https://www.nationwide.com/skimming.jsp

Videos:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z8JZk7bsI

               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_aH50Tn8Fo

If you suspect a device has been tampered with please report it to the business and the police immediately.

The Frederick Police Department is asking anyone with additional information or recognizes the suspects in the attached photos to contact us at 301-600-2102. Callers may also remain anonymous and contact the Frederick Police Department’s Crime Tip Line at 301-600-TIPS (8477), send information via email to fpdcrimetip@frederickmdpolice.org or send a text to 240-674-TIPS (8477).

Public Information Contact: Michele Bowman 301-600-2091 / 240-446-4912

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Emergency: 911

Non-Emergency: 301-600-2102

Anonymous Tip: 301-600-TIPS (8477)

Anonymous Tip Text: 240-674-TIPS (8477)

Anonymous Tip Email: fpdcrimetip@frederickmdpolice.org