Cops: Man finds ATM scam in Valley Stream

A man attempting to use his ATM card at a Capital One bank in Valley Stream Sunday discovered an apparent skimming scam when a recording device fell off the machine and into his hand.

Nassau police said the 39-year-old man called police, who responded and discovered a small camera posted near the automated teller machine used to record personal identification numbers.

"We have no idea how long it was up," police Officer Christopher Barling said. Changing weather could have loosened the device, he said.

Barling reminded ATM customers to be aware when using the machines and to look for signs that it has been altered.

This is the latest in a string of skimming cases on Long Island and in Manhattan over the past few months, with losses totaling more than $1.75 million.

Earlier this month, federal prosecutors charged a Romanian man with bank fraud and conspiracy in the theft of $1.5 million from ATMs at 40 HSBC branches in New York City and Nassau and Westchester counties. Prosecutors said the man was known as an "installer" for a skimming ring that placed devices to record debit card numbers and PINs typed into ATM keyboards.

On Dec. 19, Nassau police arrested two men who they said stole more than $17,000 by using skimming devices at Citibank ATMs around Nassau County.

A day earlier, an off-duty county police detective discovered a skimming device at Capital One Bank in Carle Place.

And in November, the Manhattan district attorney charged three native Canadian men originally from Bulgaria with taking part in a skimming scheme that earned them more than $285,000 from customers who used their debit cards in the city.

During a five-day spree, the men collected data from more than 1,100 cards. Prosecutors said most of the stolen money was sent to Bulgaria.