Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 13, 1993                   TAG: 9305130180
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From The Associated Press and The Hartford Courant
DATELINE: HARTFORD, CONN.                                LENGTH: Short

ATM WAS REAL MONEY MACHINE - FOR CROOKS

An automatic teller machine set up at a shopping mall in suburban Manchester usually didn't honor customers' transactions. Instead, it recorded account numbers and security codes, which were then used to withdraw money from customers' accounts.

Authorities said Wednesday the thefts had reached $50,000.

Secret Service agents say they never encountered such a complex electronic scam. "Nothing has even come close," said Dan Marchitello, agent in charge of the investigation for the New Haven office.

Officials with the Yankee 24 ATM network said losses had been reported as far away as Florida and more were expected.

The machine was once an authentic ATM that was either stolen or acquired used, said Richard Yanak, president of Yankee 24 ATM network. It was rolled into the mall April 24 and stayed there at least two weeks.

At first, it dispensed "seed money" to customers as the thieves tried to win the confidence of shoppers, said Gary Wood, a Manchester police spokesman.

Witnesses said they saw two men wheeling the machine away on Mother's Day.