by: John Ross Ferrara
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two men were arrested on July 12 for allegedly attempting to attach a card skimmer to an ATM at First Federal Savings and Loan in Newberg, Oregon.
Newberg-Dundee Police Department officers responded after a bank employee reported suspicious activity at the ATM. Upon arrival, they found 48-year-old Adrian Levi from Oregon and 32-year-old Luis Miguel Gonzalez-Pena from Michigan tampering with the machine.
Officers believe the suspects were trying to install a discreet skimming device designed to capture customers’ bank card information. This information can then be used to create counterfeit cards, which are subsequently employed to access victims’ accounts fraudulently.
During a search warrant executed on a van associated with the suspects, police discovered numerous skimming devices. Both Levi and Gonzalez-Pena were booked into the Yamhill County Jail on charges of attempted fraud, including computer crime, unlawful credit card factoring, and first-degree criminal mischief.
The Newberg-Dundee Police issued a warning to the public about the dangers of skimming devices, noting their discreet nature and difficulty to detect. They urged residents to be vigilant for any suspicious attachments on ATMs or point-of-sale terminals and to report any suspected fraud to local authorities.
