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Alex Cabrero ReportingMany Utahns are finding there's money missing from their bank accounts, and they're not alone. It seems thousands of customers across the country have become victims of an ATM scam and don't know it.
It all works for the thieves, because they have your ATM PIN number. They then withdraw money from your account at ATM's overseas. But how they got your PIN number in the first place, well, that's the big question the US Secret Service is investigating.
For the past five years, Chris Henderson has been coming to work here at KSL as a studio technician. He knows his technical stuff, but when he recently checked his balance, he couldn't figure out why so much money was missing from his banking account.
Chris Henderson, ATM Fraud Victim: "The first time there was $400 missing, and then I called them and immediately checked back, and there was another $200 gone right after that."
In as fast as it takes to swipe your card, Henderson was down $600.
Chris Henderson: "The ATM withdrawals all were made in and around London."
Ray Wagner, Internet Security Expert: "This is probably the biggest fraud against the banking system so far."
Security experts believe the thieves were able to get debit card and PIN numbers from a major retail store chain, or a processing facility which stores the numbers. It appears when you use a debit card keypad, your PIN number gets stored somewhere where the bad guys were able to get it and use it.
Nessa Feddis, American Bankers Association: "In the event there is a fraud, the consumer's not liable. Usually it's the bank that has to suffer the loss, so they have a huge incentive to make sure the data is protected."
In Henderson's case, Wells Fargo issued him a new debit card and they're working to get him his money back, but he says he'll never trust using his PIN number at stores again.
Chris Henderson: "From now on, I'm gonna use the credit option on the debit card reader."
There are several banks involved in this, not just Wells Fargo. The best thing you can do is to take a close look at your statement, do it on-line if possible, that way you can catch something and report it right away.
