Albany

SEFCU says that bank card skimming devices used to replicate ATM cards were attached to its Wolf Road and Guilderland branches on the Fourth of July, affecting about 100 customers.

And Cap Com Federal Credit Union confirmed it was recently the victim of a "shimmer" scam, which puts the card reader inside the ATM slot and impacted a half a dozen customers.

SEFCU, the region's largest credit union, says customers who used either of the two branches that day should call or stop into any branch to check their account.

"As always, SEFCU proactively reimburses members affected by legitimate fraud," SEFCU said on its Facebook page.

SEFCU spokeswoman Nicole Stein said the approximately 100 customers whose accounts were compromised were made whole by the credit union, although she did not say how much money was stolen. She said the Colonie and Guilderland police departments are investigating.

"It is our understanding that multiple financial institutions have been affected recently, not just SEFCU and Cap Com," Stein said.

Skimmers are devices that are attached to an ATM that can read and copy bank cards. They are placed over existing ATM hardware and are difficult for customers to immediately detect.

A shimmer is inserted directly into the card slot. Both devices require a pinhole camera to be installed to record a person punching in their PIN, or personal identification number. With the PIN and card data captured, the information can be sold online or used by criminals to access cardholders' money.

SEFCU said that its systems have been updated and that it is safe to use its ATMs. The credit union did not say how it detected the skimming devices or if there are any suspects.

"We are currently working with law enforcement to help identify the individual(s) involved," SEFCU said on its Facebook page.

Tim Ortwein, a financial crimes investigator within Cap Com's risk management team, said that a shimmer device was installed at its New Karner Road branch in Colonie on June 29 and was discovered on June 30, a Saturday, soon after the camera device was attached to the same ATM.

Ortwein said that only six customers went through the ATM that had been targeted before it was detected by a customer who complained that their card was getting jammed in the card slot. Those six customers have all met with bank officials to ensure their accounts are safe.

Ortwein said a card jamming in an ATM slot can be a clue that a shimmer has been installed, and customers should notify their institution if such jamming occurs.

"There's a lot more resistance," Ortwein, who was in law enforcement before joining Cap Com. "That's something to keep in mind."

Colonie police are handling the Cap Com incident, Ortwein said. He said he did not know if there was any connection to the SEFCU case, although he said that, once criminals target one ATM in an area, they tend to strike many.

Ortwein said the devices used to undertake such crimes cost only a few hundred dollars and are readily available online, so almost anyone can undertake such crimes.