[IP] ATM cards pirated for plenty, police say / Ploy used cameras, magnetic strip reader

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Date: August 28, 2005 1:58:24 AM EDT
To: undisclosed-recipient:;
Subject: ATM cards pirated for plenty, police say / Ploy used  
cameras, magnetic strip reader



ATM cards pirated for plenty, police say
Ploy used cameras, magnetic strip reader

By David Abel, Globe Staff  |  May 10, 2005

Using small cameras and secretly-installed ATM card readers, a thief
stole private bank card information from more than 400 ATM users in
Greater Boston and withdrew at least $400,000 from their accounts
over the past two years, police alleged yesterday.

Ioan Emil Codarcea, a Romanian national, allegedly mounted the spy
cameras and magnetic card readers on ATM machines in communities
throughout the region, including Canton, Cambridge, Needham,
Wellesley, and Woburn.

The magnetic card readers -- which looked legitimate -- were
sometimes installed on the doors leading to the ATM machines. Other
times they were mounted on top of an ATM's actual card reader. They
recorded users' card information while the cameras captured images of
users punching in their PIN numbers, which were transmitted to
Codarcea's laptop computer, police said.

Armed with the information, Codarcea duplicated the magnetic strips
and produced his own ATM cards, attaching a sticker on each where he
scribbled the PIN number, police said. Working with accomplices, he
then visited cash machines in downtown Boston and along Route 1, and
withdrew cash from the accounts, they said.

Many customers, police said, were not aware they were being
victimized until their banks notified them. Police did not name the
banks involved, but said the customers were reimbursed for the money
stolen.

Police say this type of theft, known as skimming, is becoming
increasingly common.

...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/05/10/ 
atm_cards_pirated_for_plenty_police_say/




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