Yesterday, I had the chance to get a security briefing from the local FBI office. They are reporting a wave of ATM skimmers discovered in the last 30 days in Kent, Stow and Cuyahoga Falls. So far, the financial losses have been low and they are working hard to catch this ring of thieves before they move to some other area.

In the meantime, the FBI recommends that you use the “wiggle test” at ATMs and gas pumps. ATM skimmers are glued onto the front of the existing machine. If something looks even slightly out of place or sticks up from the face of the machine, give it a good yank. If it feels loose (or worse, something comes off), immediately report it to the merchant. And if it just looks suspicious, well, take your business somewhere else.

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