Knifer

THOMASVILLE — Thomasville is not alone in a financial crime that also has hit Florida and the Atlanta area.

Midday Wednesday, a customer using an ATM in Thomasville detected something that was not right with the transaction, according to authorities. The customer notified bank employees, who found a device where ATM cards are inserted.

“It’s a professionally made device. It was a piece of plastic that was made to look exactly like what the manufacturer would have put on,” said Sgt. Toby Knifer, assistant commander of the Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division.

While customers use an ATM and perhaps notice nothing out of the ordinary, the device is copying the person’s bank credit card number, investigators said. A credit card is cloned to be used at other locations, with card holders not knowing until it is too late, the officer said.

Information on the device is being downloaded in Atlanta to identify potential victims. The Thomasville bank is notifying customers who used the ATM within a certain time frame. The precise time frame will be determined through downloaded information.

Knifer said the Secret Service is working with police to attempt to identify people affected.

A couple of local victims were identified when their bank credit card numbers were used to make withdrawals at Tallahassee, Florida, banks. Other victims, identified by police, will be notified.

“This was the only device found in Thomasville,” Knifer said.

The officer said people using ATMs should be aware of their surroundings and notify the bank and police if anything or anyone suspicious is detected. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820