Police: Skimmers Take Unsuspecting Customers' Cash

CARMEL, Ind. -- Several suspected ATM skimming incidents have been reported in recent weeks in communities north of Indianapolis, prompting police to release a surveillance picture of one man believed to be involved.

Carmel police Detective Brad Hedrick said the man pictured recently used a victim's credit card to buy electronics at Fry's Electronics on 96th Street in Fishers and a Best Buy store on Michigan Road in Carmel.

Hedrick said he thinks the victim's credit card may have been swiped and reproduced through a skimmer at an area gas station and that similar crimes have occurred recently in Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, Lawrence and Indianapolis.

"There have been several victims throughout Hamilton County, and that card information has been used everywhere from Avon to Muncie … down to Greenwood and a lot of places in between," said Carmel police Lt. Jeff Horner.

The man pictured is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 165 pounds.

A skimmer lifts credit card information when cards are swiped at ATMs.

A device is placed over a normal reader at the machine, giving thieves credit card information and leaving customers with no knowledge of what took place.

Consumers should closely look at any device in which they are swiping a credit or debit card.

"If you see something that looks suspicious or out of the ordinary … don't use it," Horner said.

Most times, stores don't know that the devices have been placed on ATMs either, police said.

Consumers are urged to use a credit card instead of a debit card, because debit accounts can be completely cleaned out by scammers quickly. With credit cards, there is generally more time to catch the illegal activity.

Investigators asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.