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Norton woman among victims of Martha's Vineyard ATM skimming scam

OAK BLUFFS, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A Norton woman was one of nearly 200 potential victims who had money stolen from their accounts after a skimming device was placed on an ATM machine in Martha's Vineyard.

"It was a blast in the face without a doubt that this happened," Sara Silkworth told FOX 25.

Sara spent the last weekend of July in Oak Bluffs. She and two of her friends enjoyed a girl's weekend without their children. The Norton resident didn't have a care in the world until she found out her information was stolen from a popular ATM located where the ferry docks right outside the Flying Horses Carousel.

Police say two men outfitted the machine with a skimming device and camera that collected card information and recorded pin numbers. The account information was then transferred to blank cards to be used anywhere. Sara and her friends' accounts were used in New York City. She says she lost $300, but her friend lost much more.
 
They're not the only victims. Police estimate about 175 people had their account information stolen, totaling close to $200,000 in theft. That number is not surprising given that the hacked ATM is attached to the nation's oldest carousel, a tourist hot spot. It also sees a constant flow of people from the ferry.

Though the information was collected in late July or early August, the suspects just began making purchases within the last few weeks. In fact, Sara and her friends were notified around Labor Day.

The FBI is working alongside local authorities to track down the suspects.