RI State Police Following Trail Left by ATM Skimming Crime Ring

RHODE ISLAND—The Rhode Island State Police have been steadily investigating the deployment of skimming devices on outdoor ATM machines across Rhode Island since June.

Devices have appeared on ATM cash-outs in Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, Lincoln, North Kingstown, Providence, Warwick, and "possibly several other communities," according to police.

Police have been collecting surveillance camera footage of suspects installing the devices and now say that they're part of an organized group using the skimmers to steal credit and debit card information later used to commit fraud.

The devices include a hidden pin hole to record the fingers of card owners as they typed in their personal identification numbers. Over time, the skimming device stores the stolen information until the thieves return to retrieve the skimmer and extract the data it onto a laptop. Then, the information is easily used to encode counterfeit credit cards using magnetic stripe encoders that are relatively easy to obtain.

Criminals using this technique are able to withdraw cash from ATMs thanks to the recording of the PIN. Unlike credit card fraud, these crimes can be more complicated for victims to resolve and can lead to empty checking accounts and bounced checks and payments.

Police have identified the following locations that were hit by the crime ring:

1. Navigant 185 Front St, Lincoln: installed on Sun June 18th (4:44 AM) and removed on Mon June 19th (8:25 AM).

2. Navigant 2086 Diamond Hill Rd in Cumberland installed on Sun June 18th (time unconfirmed) removed Mon June 19th

3. Navigant 468 Putnam Pike, Greenville: installed on Sun June 25th (4:30 AM) removed on Mon June 26th (8:00 AM)

4. Navigant 2086 Diamond Hill Rd in Cumberland installed on Sun June 26th (4:14 AM) removed Mon June 26th (8:25 AM)

The suspects show up at the ATMs with tools, the skimmers and "panels will pre-installed micro-cameras," police said. They come back about a day later.

The panels are custom made to blend in with the ATM.

Other details police have uncovered during their investigation: they travel to other bank ATMs to make large cash withdrawals using several cards at a time. They often stay in area hotels. They visit banks when they're not open for business to limit detection.

Whenever you use an ATM, look closely for any possible suspicious devices. And always try to conceal your PIN entry with your other hand. Always report anything suspicious to police and the bank.

If you have any information, call the state police at 401-444-1372. Det. Jonathan Elliot and I/A Robert Avizinis are leading the investigation.

Click through the above photos to get a look at the suspects.