Question 1

What is the "ATM Card Skimming" scam in Portland?

Accepted Answer

Criminals attach skimming devices to ATMs at convenience stores and standalone machines in downtown and tourist-heavy corridors. Portland Police Bureau documented clusters of skimmers at multiple downtown 7-Eleven ATMs, with over 100 accounts compromised in a single investigation. Use ATMs inside bank branches rather than standalone kiosks. Before inserting your card, grip the card slot and give it a firm wiggle — skimmers are attached with double-sided tape and will shift or pull off. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN.

Question 2

What is the "Counterfeit Bill Passing at Cash-Heavy Venues" scam in Portland?

Accepted Answer

Portland's concentration of cash-preferred food carts, farmers markets, and street fairs creates opportunities for counterfeit bill circulation. Scammers pass fake $50 and $100 bills at busy Saturday Market stalls under the Burnside Bridge, food cart pods along SW Alder Street, and at weekend markets in the Mississippi Avenue corridor. The bills are often high-quality inkjet prints that pass a quick visual check but fail marker tests. Vendors who do not use detection tools absorb the loss, and the scammer disappears into the crowd. Vendors should use a counterfeit detection pen or UV light for any bill $50 or larger. As a buyer, obtain cash only from bank ATMs rather than third-party machines. If you receive a suspicious bill as change, ask the vendor to verify it before leaving.

Money & ATM Scams in Portland

ATM Card Skimming

Counterfeit Bill Passing at Cash-Heavy Venues

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