San Diego Man Accused of Identity Theft Through use of Skimming Device
San Diego man is suspected of identity theft from installing skimming devices at a local ATM.
Authorities announced Wednesday that 49-year old Daniel Axinte allegedly used a debit card skimming device on a Rancho Penasquitos Chase Bank ATM machine. The skimming device was placed on the bank security door and ATM machines so Axinte could steal PIN numbers of customers who used the machines. Axinte is being charged with multiple counts of identity theft as well as other crimes and also had a scheduled arraignment at the downtown courthouse Wednesday afternoon. The suspect had also allegedly placed cameras aimed at the keypad where customers would enter their PIN’s while using the ATM.
According to District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, the suspect is said to have stolen over 970 debit cards with a loss of over $100,000. Dumanis said “this brazen crime is a twist on debit card skimming, perpetrated by an ID thief who wasn’t afraid to repeat his crime over and over at the same location. Bank customers had no idea their personal information was being compromised. But this latest crime should remind San Diegans how important it is to protect their personal financial information as best they can”.
According to Deputy District Attorney Sharla Evert, Axinte would withdraw money mostly $500 at a time using reconfigured debit cards from the stolen personal information. She also said that one of Axinte’s victims had to get a new debit card three times. The Chase Bank branch located on Black Mountain Road in Rancho Penasquitos had contacted the San Diego Regional Fraud task Force and informed them of the ongoing crime. Investigators of the task force arrested Axinte after conducting surveillance at the branch.
Man Accused Of Installing ATM Skimming Devices, ID Theft, 10news.com, July 27, 2011
DA: Man stole debit card info with recorder on ATM, fox5sandiego.com, July 27, 2011
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