Bank Account Of CSCC Member Emptied By Yate Cashpoint Criminals
Article Date: 14th June 2007
Beware of the cashpoint criminal!
One of Chipping Sodbury Cricket Club's members has suffered at the hands of some good for nothing money grabbing criminals in Yate.
Earlier this week he used the cash point by Tesco Metro on Station Road, Yate. He subsequently found that his bank account had been emptied by criminals with an appetite for shopping on the internet.
WARNING!!!
CSCC wants to warn its members and advises everyone to be very aware when using cash points wherever you are, not just Chipping Sodbury and Yate.
What the criminals actually do
The thieves are fitting micro scanners and cameras to hole-in-the-wall machines in a swindle that marks a new level of sophistication in bank card fraud.
Previously criminals have actually had to get their hands on a victim's card but the new scam allows them to clone cards and record PIN codes without having to be in the vicinity of the cash machine.
With a dummy card and the cloned PIN code, the victim's bank account can then be emptied. The criminals have targeted cash machines at supermarkets and petrol stations, which are under less supervision than automated telling machines at bank branches.
How to avoid becoming a victim
Before you use an ATM, check there are no gaps around the card slot or where the machine is attached to the wall, the face of the cash-point should be firmly fitted to the wall. If in doubt, give it a pull to check there's no illegal attachment.
If the slot where you insert the card is loose or is jutting out and looks like it has been added onto the machine, don't use it and report it straight away.
Be vigilant about others in the queue and nearby. Make sure they can't see your PIN by concealing the pad with your other hand while you type it in, this may also prevent it being recorded on a camera. You should also keep an eye out for people observing the cash-point, perhaps even from a distance of up to 50 metres away.
Finally, make sure you know your bank's 24-hour helpline and if your card is swallowed, call to make sure there's a genuine reason as sometimes criminals use this method to take cards and use them in conjunction with a number they've caught on camera.
