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OSSINING, N.Y. There has been a recent increase in the use of card skimming devices and pinhole cameras at ATM banks throughout the county, police said Wednesday.
Police advised that people place their free hand over the keyboard at ATM machines to prevent a camera from seeing their pin.
"Protecting your pin from being recorded by a secretly installed camera is critical," Ossining village police said in a press release. "Criminals use the skimmer to get your card's information and once they obtain your pin, they can use it to make withdrawals from your account."
Police also warned that criminals have been sending out authentic-looking "tax bills" to people that are often paid because the recipient believes it is from an official agency such as the Internal Revenue Service.
"Everyone, but particularly senior citizens who are often victims of fraud schemes, should remember to check any bill carefully before sending money," police said. "Careful examination of a document may reveal that it states it is not from an official government agency, often providing a post box to return the check."
Anyone who receives a bill that is not legitimate should contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484, police said.
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