Virginia Credit Union Replaces 2,000 Cards Compromised in Skimming Operation

Multiple ATMs from Virginia Credit Union were compromised with a skimming device that collected data from approximately 2,000 cards, allowing criminals to clone them and withdraw cash from the accounts of the legitimate owners.

Skimmers are illegal electronic devices that read and capture information from cards inserted in an affected cash machine. Oftentimes they are accompanied by gadgets that record the PIN for authorizing the withdrawal.

Customers are not liable for fraudulent transactions

The financial institution announced that crooks did not manage to make fraudulent transactions using all the cards, and only some of the customers were affected this way.

However, the bank informs that there is potential for illegal transfers and purchases for all the compromised debit cards and took the action to replace them.

Individuals impacted by the incident are not liable for any financial losses that may occur as a result of the fraud and all the funds removed illegally will be restored.

Crooks planted skimmers at multiple locations

According to Virginia Credit Union, card skimming occurred at the Southpark and Glenside branches and lasted for a short period of time.

An attempt to compromise machines in a third location was thwarted as the skimming device and the card data it stored were recovered in time.

“This was not a breach of the credit union’s data systems. The card skimming relates only to card information of those members who inserted their card in an affected ATM during the time a skimming device was installed,” the bank stresses in a notification to its customers on Wednesday.

Law enforcement is involved in the matter and the investigation is under development at the moment. All affected customers should receive a notification letter from the bank disclosing the incident.

Anyone believing to have fallen victim to a card skimming operation is advised to change the authorization PIN as soon as possible. Also, they should check the account statements and report any suspicious activity to the bank.