Boulder police investigating rise of debit-card fraud cases

BOULDER — Credit- and debit-card fraud has been on the rise in Boulder, with crooks stealing data on bank and credit cards by using skimmers on ATM machines, the Boulder Police Department said Friday.

A skimmer is a device fraudsters attach to ATM that electronically accesses credit- and debit-card information when bank customers slip their cards into the machines to pull out money. Skimming typically involves the use of hidden cameras to record customers’ PINs and phony keypads placed over real keypads to record keystrokes. They usually are undetectable by users because they blend right into the ATM’s façade.

Boulder police said more than a thousand FirstBank bank and credit cards were compromised during the last few days of August, and Broomfield-based Community Financial Credit Union, which has a branch in Boulder, also revealed to police that at least four of its members had their debit-card data used between Aug. 29 and 31 at various Wells Fargo ATMs along the Front Range. Each member reported losing approximately $1,500. Police determined that each victim had used their debit card at the King Soopers at 1650 30th St., in Boulder between May 26 and June 24.

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Jim Reuter with Lakewood-based FirstBank said there has been an increase in skimmer activity on ATMs in public spaces such as grocery and convenience stores, and probably not just in Boulder. Reuter said banks partner with third-party vendors to install and operate ATMs in public spaces.

“Skimmers can be hard to detect,” Reuter said. “They are ultra-thin.” Reuter said this is the first wave of skimmers being attached to ATMs in public spaces that he is aware of. He said several years ago all banks were seeing skimming attacks, mostly on drive-thru ATMs, but were able to tighten security and squash the attempts.

Police believe many financial institutions, banks and credit unions, may have been victimized in this recent rash of skimming, said Laurie Odgen, Boulder Police’s acting public information officer.

Reuter said cardholders will be reimbursed by their bank for money lost from skimming incidents, but added, “If something doesn’t look right, contact authorities and banks rather than trying to remove a skimmer from an ATM.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are asking anyone who may have been a victim of this crime or have information on this case to call detective Jeff Kithcart at 303-441-3376.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.