Columbus PD asks for help identifying ATM skimmer suspect

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A scammer is wanted for withdrawing cash that wasn’t his from three Columbus bank ATMs over the weekend.

Columbus PD said the man in these pictures is accused of taking over $1,000 using forged ATM cards.

The suspect went up to one Columbus bank around 7:22 a.m. Sunday on his bicycle to use the counterfeit cards.

Police Chief Fred Shelton said the process is known as “ATM skimming.” The suspect is believed to have cloned ATM cards using a device placed on ATM machines that copies information from cards which the suspect can then use to make fake duplicate cards.

“There is a small camera to capture ATM pin numbers and then the card itself has the magnetic stripe with the account information on it that is copied,” said Shelton. “It is very sophisticated and difficult to spot since the equipment is mounted directly on an ATM.”

Columbus PD will not identify the victims or the banks involved.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at 800-530-7151.