Skimming Scam That Targets ATM Cards - KNTV.com

Technology is on the cutting edge now more than ever.
Most people use it to better their lives, but some use technology to take advantage of others.
Action News reporter Steve Ryan has more on a growing, hi-tech financial scam in the Valley.
For most people cash has taken a back seat to the convenience of credit and debit cards.
"I am afraid to use an ATM machine now, I really am," said Greg Pollak.
Greg Pollak was recently the victim of a skimmer, a small device that is a big problem.
"Somebody had their hand in my wallet, you know what I mean. I do not like that. I wanted to reach up and smack them across the teeth," explained Greg.
Greg lost hundreds of dollars to a skimmer, a magnetic stripe reader thieves use to record financial card information.
Lieutenant Robert Sebby oversees Metro's Financial Crimes Division and says thousands of people in the Valley have been taken for thousands of dollars.
Now police are out to take out the criminals, starting with the runners who do the dirty work.
"We routinely catch runners on the strip just about every weekend and a lot of those are willing to roll over on who the bigger fish are," said Lieutenant Robert Sebby.
Some skimmers are only about the size of a lighter, so criminals can put them in a lot of places quickly where financial information is used.
They tend to favor restaurants and gas pumps.
With technology now, they do not even have to come back to get the information off of the skimmer.
"They can be sitting across the way with a laptop with a wireless card. They can download your information and make a credit card right then and there while you are pumping your gas," said Lieutenant Sebby.
The safest way to protect yourself from skimmers is to always use a credit card, not your debit card, because thieves also have access to your pin number.
Credit cards offer your federal protection which is peace of mind that Greg wishes he had now.
"I felt totally confused. I mean, I was so disoriented that I did not know what was going on," said Greg.
He does not know when or if he will ever get his money back.
The criminals who took it could face several felony charges, including identity theft and burglary.
Skimming devices actually have legitimate uses too as they are used at conventions, to read room keys and gate access codes.
Stay tuned to Action News as we monitor developing news around the Valley