Authorities are searching for a man accused of trying to lift personal information – including PIN codes – from an ATM by attaching a special device to the machine outside a bank in Santee.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO), on Nov. 27, a technician discovered a skimmer – a device that reads and stores credit card numbers and PINs on a memory card – attached to an ATM at a Mission Federal Credit Union located at 245 Town Center Parkway.
The discovery was made around 12:30 p.m. that day, though investigators believe the device was planted on the ATM approximately 30 minutes before it was found.
Deputies were alerted and were able to recover the memory card and skimmer from the ATM.
SDSO officials say no credit card or ATM card information was stolen from the machine, though investigators say criminals often use skimmers in an attempt to steal personal information in order to then make fraudulent purchases.
On Wednesday, the sheriff’s department released two clear images of a man suspected of putting the skimmer on the ATM. In the photos, the man is wearing a hooded sweatshirt and is standing in front of the ATM.
The suspect remains outstanding. Anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
