The ATM

This should be just another Friday.  Yes it was Friday and Tracey would be getting off work before dark.  Maybe I can see the sun,” she thought. “I should have driven. Whyyyy didn’t I bring the car?” she lamented.

Tracey Lowes is a 24 year old specialist working in Washington, DC. DC was the place to come for promotions. She had no ties – not being married, and not close to her family. She wanted excitement in her life, but so far DC was not the place.  The lack of excitement was not because of her looks.  She was built with curves hugging her 5’10” frame. Tracey had what she called “wash and wear” hair. Her hair was dark brown with blond highlights that got lighter in the summer from the sun. It was long with loose waves almost reaching her butt. She wore it pulled back in a ponytail or one braid most of the time. At work she put it up in a bun. 

Washington was not New York, so she wasn’t as fashion minded. Her office uniform was pant suits and sensible heels. Weekends meant jeans and shorts during the humid hot Washington summers. She’s wears clear lens glasses at work to make her look more mature. Because of her youth, she was afraid people at work did not take her seriously enough. Tracey has multiple degrees in different areas of international affairs, behavioral and social sciences. She knows a lot about a lot of things. But you wouldn’t know it. Tracey entered college at sixteen on full academic scholarship. She acts freely without inhibition and most people are shocked to find out how much education she has. At work, Tracey is upbeat, innovative and fun to work with. Able to stay focused on the big picture; she is cool under pressure and able to inspire others to keep going. She’s attracted to jobs where she can be independent, now running her own team. She’s definitely on the fast track.

Tracey is extremely extroverted, always on the go, living in the real world. She is full of life, living out loud. She is very vocal and outspoken, imaginative and charming. Tracey lives for new and exciting experiences opting to move from New York to California, and now Washington, DC. However, at this level, she is not interested in experiences she considers detrimental to herself or others. Tracey is people-oriented, enjoying contact and interaction with other people. She was able to get promotions because of her education and people skills. There's an underlying understanding of tragedy, so she will bond quickly to others who suffer, trying to lift them up and distract them the way she distracts herself. When she's under pressure, she becomes cool, calm and self-assured. When she's relaxed and secure, she takes time to think things through.

Although she seems to be living life to the fullest, Tracey's actually missing an important part of life. Tracey has difficulty sleeping at night. This makes her drowsy in the morning. She often sleeps on the commuter bus or train. She often naps at lunchtime. Tracey may suffer from the Sleep Disorders->Insomnia. People with this disorder complain of difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep or experiencing non-restorative sleep. The associated daytime fatigue causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. Symptoms started when she was in California. Tracey awoke from sleep at night in the middle of a category 4 earthquake. Symptoms got worse when her grandmother died of natural causes months later. She was 101, and lived at home until the day she died. She was as young as a 79 year old, taking frequent trip with the senior center. Tracey’s grandmother was a substitute mother. They lived together in California. She doesn’t try to hide the problem from co-workers. On the nights she really can’t sleep, she goes to work. Co-workers stopped asking her to go out to lunch. Tracey usually naps at lunchtime.

She was so tired this Friday morning, and decided not to drive. Now she really regretted that decision.  It was going to effect the rest of her day – she just knew it. She needs cash for the weekend. Tracey didn’t like swiping her card in stores and restaurants.  “I’ll go to the credit union at lunch. No I better go before or there’ll be a crowd, “she said out loud. The credit union was in another building which required Tracey having to go out in the gray damp cold day. There was no sun today, just daylight.  “I really hate this weather. Have to find someplace with sun that’s not going to float out into the ocean during the night,” she thought to herself this time.

The work day was at an end and Tracey didn’t go to the credit union. Now she just wanted to get out of the building, and start the weekend.  “I should have drove,” she whimpered.  “Now I’ll have to get off the bus on Georgia Avenue instead of riding to the station. OK that could be a good thing,” trying to make a bad situation better.  “I’ll stop at the Jamaican place and get meat patties instead of eating cereal tonight.” She was beginning to feel more motivated.

Tracey really hated outside ATMs. She much preferred the bank machines in the lobby. They seemed more secure. Oh well she should have gone to the credit union. Too late now! “It would have been so easy at work, but I was so tired. Now I have to make an extra trip. If I didn’t need cash before I get home, I would not bother,” Tracey beat herself up mentally.

The bank was on busy Georgia Avenue bus stop, but the ATMs were around the corner on the side of the building. This block was quiet. The next block over was home to the Jamaican restaurant and Safeway food store. Much busier, so much so people used that exit from the bank parking lot. The parking lot was packed, but not one person or car had passed her.  Tracey turned her attention to the ATM.  She was about to insert her card, but the machine just didn’t look right. She wasn’t sure what was wrong. She stood staring at the machine, and then she saw it. If she was better rested, she’d see it sooner.

Tracey couldn’t read the writing on the card slot. There was something over the slot.  A high-tech method of operating sometimes called card skimming or card cloning involves the installation of a magnetic card reader over the real ATM's card slot. Here it was staring her in the face. No telling how long it’s been here. It’s Friday and pay day for a lot of people! Deep in thought Tracey didn’t notice the guy in overcoat and hat come up. “See” she thought to herself, “I should have gone to the credit union. People just walk up on you.”

Tracey slipped her bank card in her coat pocket. The man asked, “Are you finished with the machine?” Tracey turned to face him, he made certain to keep his head down. “Hmmmm, this maybe something,” amateur detective coming out of Tracey. “No you go ahead,” Tracey offered, “but I wouldn’t use that machine,” Tracey advised as she moved to the next machine instead of leaving. This strange man and Tracey were the only two people on the street for the last 5 minutes. The parking lot was at her back if she had to make a run for it. She used her big handbag to block what she thought was the wireless surveillance camera or modified digital camera on the second ATM to observe the user's PIN. She didn’t have time to take a good look since she wanted to keep an eye on the suspect – just a feeling. Card data is duplicated onto a cloned card and the criminal tries to make regular cash withdrawal. The availability of low-cost wireless cameras and card readers made it a very simple form of fraud, with almost no risk to the criminals.

Conflict occurs when the suspect begins to think Tracey’s real concerns are hindering him. He turns to look at a driver in a car with the engine running across the street. Aha a partner Tracey deduced. He has to stay in the car for the quick getaway. So they must be collecting the equipment from the bank machines. Tracey made herself comfortable with her bag blocking access to the other machine. She pulled out a pad and pen and began making notes. This was just too much for the crook. “What are you doing?” His tone very hashed. “Excuse me!” Tracey answered with that head movement Black woman did. Tracey was not backing down. “If you are using the machine go ahead. I’ll use it when you finish or I’ll use this one when I’m ready.” The guy was getting unnerved looking for support or guidance from the driver of the car. They spent too much time at this machine. “What’s that?” Tracey asked looking up. “It’s nothing. Thought it was another camera.” That exploit got the crook to look up at the security camera. Now his face was there for all to see.

Now it was time for the guy to make his exit. That was a careless move looking up like that. Can’t imagine what names he was calling Tracey. What he didn’t realize happened when he looked up was he put both hands on the counter. Can you say fingerprints? He’d just have to cut his losses with the equipment. A good 15-20 minutes passes out here with this woman. Not one person or car passed in 20 minutes was Tracey’s thoughts. “Why didn’t I go to the credit union?” The crook broke into Tracey’s thoughts, “Look you’re right about this machine. Why don’t you go get the bank manager to come take a look see?” Tracey countered, “No you go. I want to finish my list.”

That was the last straw for the guy. He turned and walked away. Since he wasn’t heading toward the front of the building, but towards the car, Tracey’s intuitions were confirmed. The getaway car made a sharp right turn going north on Georgia Avenue. Tracey was in the position to see the license plate. Just then another man walked up. Not again... “Don’t use that machine,” Tracey said in a stern tone. “And why not?” was the reply. “I don’t have time for this. Look, go get the bank manager – now! Don’t keep me waiting.” With that much authority, the man hurried off to do the task. A few minutes later he returned with bank manger. He walked up to the ATM actually trying to take credit for the discovery. “Why didn’t I go to the credit union?” Over and over in her head Tracey screamed until she gave herself a migraine.

Tracey was short on patience, hungry, annoyed with herself, and it was getting dark. She looked at the bank manager as the manager ripped the card skimmer off the ATM. “Don’t touch another thing on that machine. I want you to listen to me closely because I’m only going to say this once. Get rid of this guy. He just got here. Go inside, take that thing in your hand and put it in a plastic or paper bag.  Don’t let anyone else touch it.  Look at the security camera and the man before this guy here showed up is your criminal. I got him to look up once. Let me know if you can see his face. Come back with someone to watch these machines until the police arrive, pen and paper.” Dismissing the lying man, the bank manager hurried off.

Tracey could smell the food from the Jamaican restaurant as the door opened and closed.  It was late and many people were off work now. The restaurant was getting busy with people getting take-out or eating in. She could imagine pans in the oven and pots boiling on the stove. May be someone took a fresh batch of coo bread out the oven.  “Why, why, why,” Tracey yelled in frustration. Didn’t matter, there was no one on the street – except her.

The bank manger returned obediently with bank employee, pen and paper.  Tracey outlined everything that transpired with the suspect for the bank manger to record. She noted the car and although she did not get a license plate number, she suggested the police check security cameras on the building by the alley, closest to the car and traffic cameras. She reminded the manager of the camera on the other ATM and the possibility the crooks were careless and left prints on the inside of the camera. Tracey said the police may be able to get prints from the counter and demonstrated the man’s hand placement.  The bank manager said there was a reward.  The last thing Tracey wanted was her face and name on TV or the hero of the week segment. Her job depended on her hiding in “plain sight.”

Tracey was very calm when she said, “I don’t want reward money. Use the reward money to make a public service announcement about this ATM scam. You might want to move these machines into the lobby or closer to the entrance. I do need money from my account, but I don’t want to use these ATMs. My account is not at this bank.”

“Sure thing, come inside and I’ll help you get whatever you need. Those were great suggestions, I will take seriously,” the bank manager said as the two walked inside the bank. “Who are you? Where do you work that you know all this stuff?” the woman asked.  Tracey looked deep into her eyes and without a smile, “If I tell you I’d have to kill you!” The bank manager smiled, but Tracey did not. She did expedite Tracey getting her money.

Finally on her way to the restaurant, the lesson Tracey learned today was do not procrastinate, use the credit union and drive to work on Fridays.  By the time she got her food it was dark and she was tired. She headed to the train station to get a cab – she deserved it! Once home, Tracey found a movie she always planned to watch, found a bottle of wine saved for special occasions, and relaxed with her food.

Spring arrives and the weather was warm enough not to wear a coat. The bank incident months earlier was forgotten. Tracey had not been back to bank or the restaurant since that day. The whole thing was a distant memory.  Since she took up tai chi, kick boxing and acupuncture Tracey’s sleeping difficulty were gone. She was on the fast track at work.  Life was good.

Today Tracey got home earlier enough to watch the evening news.  She actually fixed dinner from scratch.  As she settled in to watch the lead story, she nearly dropped her glass.  

This channel 11 news and the breaking story - a group of criminals used counterfeit ATM cards to steal $9 million from 130 ATMs in 49 cities around the country.  Arrest in DC of two men involved in this scam lead to the nationwide crackdown.  A man dressed in a hat and dark coat made the mistake of looking into the ATM security camera at the Northside Bank. Police were able to run facial recognition software that lead to his arrest. Police and FBI working together disclosed that the man arrested is Michael Toner, a computer security consultant.  Toner’s partner stole money from different bank ATMs by pointing high definition video cameras at ATMs from his car, and recorded the card numbers and expiry dates from the embossed detail on the ATM cards along with video footage of the PINs being entered. After getting the required information from the videotapes, the unidentified man was able to produce clone cards which permitted him to withdraw the full daily limit for each account. It also allowed him to override withdrawal limits by using multiple cloned cards. Toner was responsible for the magnetic card reader over the real ATM's card slot and the use of a wireless surveillance camera.

All this time Tracey was standing and watching the TV. What came next knocked her off her feet – literally. She flopped on the couch. “Here is the composite drawing released by the FBI that led to the arrest of Michael Toner.” There he was - the ATM man.