Law enforcement officials all across the state are urging banking customers to keep a close eye on their account balances. Scammers are skimming hundreds of people's account information from ATMs and pay-at-the-pump gas stations and using it to steal thousands of dollars. Investigators say thieves even go so far as to put hidden cameras near ATMs to record people as they enter their personal identification number onto the machine's keypad. Skimmers in gas pumps are virtually impossible to detect. The thieves then use the copied bank account information to make duplicate ATM and debit cards to steal money from people's accounts.

Cory Mathes is a security officer for the State Employees' Credit Union:

Additionally, Mathes tells News 14 you can avoid being scammed by
• Using the gas pump closest to the attendant. Those easily seen by store employees are the least likely to be modified with a skimmer.
• Try to use the same ATM as often as possible so you are very familiar with the machine and its layout. If you notice anything new, different or out of place, check with the owning financial institution to see if they changed the machine.
• When entering your PIN on the ATM number pad, use your other hand to shield it from view in case there is a hidden camera to capture your PIN code.

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