Barrington police conducted a check of the ATMs at local banks last week after being alerted to an incident where two men allegedly installed a small surveillance camera and other electronic equipment at an ATM that scanned and stole peoples’ bank account information.
The check revealed one local bank’s ATM had been compromised — the machine at the BankNewport on County Road — while the others appeared to be fine. Police said the camera was very small and was able to record peoples’ password pin numbers as the individuals typed them onto the ATM keys. A second device, said police, was able to scan information off the cards’ magnetic strips.
Earlier this month, Warwick police arrested two New York men who allegedly installed an ATM “skimming” device at the Greenwood Credit Union in Warwick. Police in that town said more than 125 credit union customers had been victimized.
Police said BankNewport officials had already contacted individuals whose accounts may have been compromised.