Vancouver police see jump in reports of unauthorized debit card charges

The Vancouver Police Department said Monday that it has recently seen a jump in reports of unauthorized debit card charges.

People unfortunate enough to lose money in this way may have been victims of skimming, according to the police department.

A skimmer is a device generally affixed to the mouth of an ATM, and it surreptitiously swipes credit and debit card information when bank customers insert their cards into the machines. There are also pieces placed on top of cash withdrawal slots that record people putting in their personal identification number.

“Criminals sell the stolen data or use it to buy things online. You won’t know your information has been stolen until you get your statement or an overdraft notice,” the police department warned in a Facebook post.

Vancouver police are unaware of any problem spots with multiple victims, so they offered a few tips to avoid potential theft: Pay inside at gas stations, avoid using debit or credit cards, if possible, and regularly check your bank accounts.

People can also take steps before they use an ATM by checking if the machine has been tampered with in any way. The plastic mouth pieces around the card intake or cash slot should not be loose or easy to remove.

Skimming has been reported elsewhere in the county. In August, the Woodland Police Department reported getting multiple calls about a skimmer at a Fibre Federal Credit Union. The thieves moved fast and cleared out several accounts before police were informed about the device, Police Chief James Kelly told The Columbian.