Credit Card Skimmer Found At Tampa Credit Union

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Police Department is asking for help identifying a man its detectives say placed a credit card skimmer on a bank’s ATM over the weekend.

According to police, a customer at the GTE Financial Credit Union at 711 S. Dale Mabry Highway discovered the skimming device around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 11. The customer reportedly felt resistance when a card was inserted into the machine.

Surveillance video pulled from the ATM showed a possible suspect placing the skimmer around 2 p.m. that same day. The man is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s. He is white and is said to have brown hair. Detectives do not know what kind of vehicle the man drives.

Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case. Anyone who recognizes the man in the photos is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

Skimmers are high-tech devices meant to capture a person’s debit or credit card information when a card is swiped at an ATM or gas pump. Skimmers are generally hidden to make them difficult for consumers to spot.

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At gas pumps, local law enforcement suggests that residents can protect themselves from credit card skimmers by taking the following actions:

• Only use gas pumps that require ZIP code entry because that provides another layer of protection against skimmers
• Check to make sure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and has not been tampered with
• Feel the slot where a card is inserted to make sure it is not loose
• Use a pump as close to the front of the store as possible
• If using a debit card, run it as credit instead of using the PIN number

For more information about how to safeguard against credit card fraud, visit the Federal Trade Commission online.

Photos courtesy of Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay