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Dozens of cards compromised after skimming device found on Rock Hill ATM

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Police in Rock Hill are investigating after a skimming device was found on a bank ATM last month, and the bank told Channel 9 that as many as 40 cards may have been compromised.

Police released surveillance pictures of two men who they believe are a part of the skimming scheme.

Authorities said on March 19 a Romanian refugee placed the skimmer on an ATM the First Citizens branch on Herlong Avenue. They said he installed it before business hours.

Then after the bank was closed a second man removed the skimmer from the ATM.

"You're not going to have the workers there who could potentially walk up and see you do something," said Rock Hill police Detective Dave Hanoka.

Hanoka said the same person also placed a skimmer and camera on the ATM at the Arrow Pointe Federal Credit Union near Home Depot. He said the device was installed at the credit union three times in March, including the same day the device was placed at the First Citizens Bank.

Authorities said 40 cards were compromised, and apparently then used to withdraw money from ATMs in the Columbia, South Carolina, area.

CLICK HERE for more information on spotting skimming devices

First Citizens officials told police they are still looking into how much was lost.

Spotting skimming devices or tiny pinhole cameras isn't easy, but police said there is one trick people can do to make sure they won't fall victim to skimmers.

"This stuff's basically stuck on there with double sided tape," Hanoka said. "So you grab ahold to where you insert your card and you tug on it really hard. If there's a skimmer there, you're probably going to pull it off."

First Citizens told Channel 9 that the State Law Enforcement Division and the Secret Service are investigating the cases now.

(Watch Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke explain how to protect yourself from skimmers)

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