TAMUNING—The FBI is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who was captured on surveillance video placing a skimming device on a Bank of Guam ATM in the Micronesia Mall on Tuesday, June 5th.

Anyone with information about the identity of this suspect is urged to call the FBI Guam office at 671-645-1809. Anonymous tips are welcome and information received will be treated as confidential.

The device was a piece of surreptitious surveillance equipment used to steal from customer accounts, known as a “skimmer.” ATM skimming is a criminal activity that costs U.S. banks hundreds of millions of dollars annually and affects thousands of bank customers. While law enforcement is constantly working to catch skimmers, the public is always urged to take basic precautions to protect against skimming at ATMs, gas stations, and other vulnerable card reader locations.

The public is urged to follow precautions to avoid falling victim to skimming:

• Inspect the ATM, gas pump, or credit card reader before using it…be suspicious if you see anything loose, crooked, or damaged, or if you notice scratches or adhesive/tape residue.
• When entering your PIN, block the keypad with your other hand to prevent possible hidden cameras from recording your number.
• If possible, use an ATM at an inside location (less access for criminals to install skimmers).
• Be careful of ATMs in tourist areas…they are a popular target of skimmers.
• If your card is not returned after the transaction or after hitting “cancel,” immediately contact the financial institution that issued the card.

The FBI is working jointly on this matter with the Guam Attorney General’s Office and the Gaum Police Department.