JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Police and bank officials are scrambling Wednesday after finding out that someone placed a credit card skimmer on the ATM of a very popular bank on Jacksonville Beach over the Fourth of July weekend.
SunTrust bank on 3rd Street South just north of the JTB and employees of the bank have said that some customers who used the ATM could be affected.
Police and bank employees are asking people who may have used that ATM to check their bank statements.
In 27 years of service, Cmdr. Mark Evans with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department said that he's seen his fair share of skimmers, including the case at SunTrust last Sunday.
"It's happened in the past. I can't say that it happens every week, but it does happen," Evans said.
According to police, a customer noticed the skimmer after placing his debit card into the machine. He told police that he saw glue protruding from the edge of the ATM card reader. Luckily he didn't put in his pin number, but he did tug at the card reader, causing the skimmer to come off.
SunTrust Bank couldn't say how long the skimmer was on the ATM but Evans is warning anyone using a debit card at any ATM machine.
"Just pay attention to your surroundings, to the location. Think about what's normal or what you're used to doing. If you don't feel comfortable don't use it, make a call and go to another one," Evans said.
Police are unsure of how many customers may have been affected and are working with SunTrust's fraud department to figure out the scope of the case.