Scammers stealing ATM, PIN info

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Sophisticated crooks are skimming about $1 billion a year from unsuspecting bank customers, prompting the Better Business Bureau to remind people to check their bank statements regularly.

In Detroit, police released photos of five men who they say are responsible for stealing about $500,000 in recent weeks.

Here is how the scam works:

-- Crooks put a card reader on ATMs
-- When a customer puts his/her ATM card in the ATM slot, the reader sends the card number to the crooks who then get the customer's PIN using a hidden camera as the number is entered
-- Crooks make a duplicate card and raid the customer's bank account

Generally, the crooks steal a little amount of cash at a time so the theft is not so noticeable.

The US Secret Service and 16 police agencies are investigating.