With more than 30 bank branches operating here, the city of Tagbilaran has become a huge financial hub in Central Visayas, a status that could lure highly organized crime groups to hit financial institutions with their evil schemes. As this developed, Boholano users of banks' automated teller machines (ATMs) have been alerted to take extra precaution when they use of ATM servicesas the city government braces for a possible infiltration of ATM skimming devices that could drain a client's account without his/her knowledge. To prepare for the worst scenario, City Peace and Order Council chair, Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap, has convened the key officers of the Bohol Bankers Association (BBA) headed by its president, Deo Butawan of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and warned the concerned authorities about the threat of ATM skimming.

Yap said the public should be aware how this syndicate operates. ATM skimming is a technique used by criminals to copy personal data from the magnetic strip on an ATM card. The criminal slots a skimmer device into the card slot of the ATM, when the ATM card user uses the machine, the skimming device is able to read the card details from the magnetic strip and later transmitted to a computer. The mayor said ATM users should immediately notify bank security guards or bank personnel whenever they suspect that an ATM has been compromised. Mayor Yap was prompted by the series of cases which plagued clients all over the country, prominent of which is the case of a retired police officer who sought the help of the NBI Cybercrime Division after the retired police officer lost almost all her retirement fund amounting to nearly P400,000. Authorities said the retired official, identified only as “Chief Inspector Anna,” lost P100,000 in just one banking day back in August, 2012.

A total of 10 withdrawals were made in that single day alone. The withdrawals continued until the account was drained. In Cebu City, Police Regional Office 7's Regional Intelligence Division headed by Supt. Pablo Labra II is now coordinating with the International Police (InterPol) and the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID)for the possible identification of three foreigners who are reportedly behind the skimming of automated teller machine cards in Cebu City lately. Mayor Yap culled suggestions from the bank managers on how to curtail the emerging threat. Elena Deligero from Security Bank said they have installed a text messaging alert system for their depositors. Transactions made in accounts amounting to P10, 000 and up will automatically generate a text notice, which will be sent to a client's mobile phone to verify if the withdrawals are legal. Deligero said the system is not in violation of the Bank Secrecy Law since their clients have signed a waiver which allows the bank to manage their transactions.

Geline Pasaña of Metrobank said banks are now mandated to have an authorized messenger to check their respective ATM terminals three times a day for any skimming devices. Butawan said BPI has encouraged their clients to avail of the electronic banking system or EBS, the system automatically tracks the client's transaction and updates the client's mobile phones and emails. Meanwhile, Mayor Yap said the city government is committed to help the banking community. Yap said the city would launch a massive information campaign to inform the public of this new modus. He said the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) could also be tapped to pass ordinances which could strengthen the bank's advocacy for consumer protection. City Councilor Alberta Torralba, who was also present during the meeting, said the public should be familiarized with these skimming gadgets to protect themselves. Yap affirmed these observations and said that these gadgets have indeed evolved swiftly, from micro-cameras to sophisticated key pads. Yap said ATM users should be more vigilant in making ATM withdrawals to prevent fraudsters from duplicating their cards and withdrawing cash without their knowledge. He promised to maintain the police visibility in ATM terminals. The mayor is urging ATM card users to immediately report cases of skimming, as the process of claiming stolen money from ATMs may take as long as six months. He stressed that victims should take the time to complain immediately when they suspect that their card has been cloned and properly document their correspondence with the banks.