Dollar Bank warns customers of skimming activity in Pittsburgh area

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Dollar Bank says its ATMs were involved in skimming activity in the Pittsburgh region. 

Skimmers are devices that can be attached to an ATM and disguised to appear as part of the card reader. When customers insert a credit or debit card, the skimmer reads and collects the card and PIN numbers. Those numbers can then be used to make a fake card that can be used at other ATMs.

Rita Labbett says she woke up Sunday morning and checked her Dollar Bank account online like she always does. She says she was shocked to see she had significantly less money than she did the night before. 

"There was a $503 withdrawal from an ATM in Baldwin/Whitehall Bank of America," she said. 

Labbett says when she saw that significant ATM withdrawal, instant panic set in. She immediately began retracing her steps. 

"I went shopping on Saturday, maybe my debit Mastercard fell out. I looked and I had the card still in my possession," she said. 

Labbett says she immediately called Dollar Bank's customer service number and was able to instantly get her account frozen.

First thing Monday morning, she says, she headed straight to her branch where she was greeted with a line of customers out the door.

"Saw a friend of mine ironically and her and I were talking, people overheard and the same thing happened to her and everybody chimed in and that's what happened to us." 

Dollar Bank also encourages customers to utilize a free card control app which gives customers the ability to turn their card off and on. Gina Macklin says she took the bank's advice and downloaded the app. She says she hopes this new tool will her from being a victim. 

"I tried right away after I turned it off to take $20 out of the ATM and it declined me so it did work," she said. 

Dollar Bank didn't say where the skimmers were discovered. The company issued a statement, saying in part: 

"Dollar Bank is aware of ATM skimming activity occurring in the Pittsburgh region. Law enforcement officials have noted an increase in ATM skimming at the state and federal levels and have confirmed such activity is not unique to Dollar Bank. We take this matter very seriously and our top priority is the safety and soundness of our customer's accounts. We want to assure our customers that we have taken immediate steps to inspect our ATMs and are actively working with law enforcement officials to assist with their investigation."