In a Fox 25 news segment, reporter Ted Daniel and personal security expert Robert Siciliano expose how anyone can buy, operate, and tamper with private ATMs in the United States. The segment shows that ATMs are sold openly on sites like Craigslist and eBay, often with no regulatory oversight. Siciliano purchases a used ATM for $750, discovering that the previous owner left a 150‑foot printout of transaction histories containing thousands of credit and debit card numbers. The report then demonstrates how inexpensive skimming devices and tiny hidden cameras—available from online marketplaces—can be attached to an ATM to capture magnetic‑stripe data and PINs while the machine continues to dispense cash. Using the captured data, thieves can clone cards and withdraw funds repeatedly until the account is drained. The segment includes a live test of a rigged ATM in three Boston‑area locations, showing that the modifications are virtually invisible to users. Siciliano advises consumers to avoid ATMs that look out of place, have unusual attachments, or appear unsecured, emphasizing that victims often discover the breach only after financial loss.
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Still ahead tonight, they are buying the machine on the web. A lot of times your credit card number is part of the deal. Private ATMs owned by thieves taking your cash. ATMs are great for fast cash on the run, but here's something that might make you slow down the next time you use one. Anyone, anyone can own and operate private automated teller machines, and that includes criminals. Fox 25's Ted Daniel with a look at how easy it is for hackers to pose as bankers.
They're here, they're Nearly half a million ATMs in the U.S. Most are affiliated with reputable banks and monitored daily. But we discovered anyone, and I mean anyone, can get into the cash dispensing business. There are no regulations in the U.S. on who could own or operate an ATM. So you're telling me you can buy an ATM online?
You can go right on Craigslist or eBay and just type in ATM and instantly you're gonna find companies selling you ATM machines.
Boston-area personal security expert Robert Siciliano shows us how easy it is. Shows us dozens of new and used ATMs for sale online all over the country. And then the one he bought for $750 on Craigslist from a guy named Bob in Beverly. And this one comes with something extra. Bob forgot to delete the transaction history stored in the ATM before Robert picked it up. You're looking at a printout 150 feet long of all the credit and ATM card numbers the machine processed in a 4-month period. Private data from customers who are most likely unaware their security has been breached. That's one way your information can be compromised. Here's another.
So this right here is an ATM skimming device. You can buy these off of any online site.
In a matter of minutes, Robert Siciliano shows us how easy it is to rig an ATM to steal personal information and have it still dispense money at the same time. It's as simple as attaching a skimming device on top of the card slot. This one is designed to look like it's part of the ATM.
And essentially it's going to be stealing the information off of the magnetic strip.
Not only can the ATM be rigged to steal your card information, it can also steal your PIN. This one has a tiny camera pointed right at the keypad.
And that's the reader.
Using technology widely available for purchase online, scammers can make duplicate copies of your ATM card and with the PIN, drain your account.
They can go to an ATM machine at, let's say, 5 minutes to midnight. They put the card in. Punch in your PIN code because they got it via the wireless camera, take the maximum dollar amount out for the day, and do it again after midnight, another calendar day, and they'll do that until they liquidate your account.
For a crook to steal information, someone would have to use the ATM, right? Would you use the ATM?
Yeah, sure.
Yeah, looks normal. It doesn't look like a fake ATM. We took the rigged ATM to 3 different locations north of Boston, and yes, there were concerns. But not necessarily about the security of the machine itself. Would you use this ATM right here?
Um, I would. It depends on the fee.
On the fee?
Yep.
What if it was free?
I absolutely would use it.
Nobody could spot the skimmer or the camera until after we pointed it out. And then look underneath there, the camera shoots your hands.
Oh my goodness, that's scary.
It's bad, but it's amazing what technology can do. Amazing and disturbing. That's why Siciliano says if an ATM is unsecured or looks out of place, don't use it. —because you never know who put it there. Also, if the machine looks like it's been tampered with or has any unusual attachments, it could be hacked. If your information is compromised, you most likely won't find out until it's already too late.
I couldn't believe that I could just go on Craigslist and buy an ATM machine. It just shouldn't be that easy.
I'm Ted Daniel, FOX 25 News.
Ted does tell us that there is technology being developed right now that would make it harder for crooks to compromise your information. Through ATMs. You want to learn more? Read Ted Daniels' blog on this story. Head over to our website and click on news and then click on
