Card Fraud. A Few Tips.

Von Smallhausen · 15 Mar 2006 at 00:37

There has been a thread by Davey D with reference to his card being scammed and it is a common occurrence. I have a few tips for people to follow, especially with ATM's to reduce the prospect of getting scammed. It is not a definitive guide by any means and is certainly not a guarantee by any means but it will help reduce any problems by potential scammers.

The picture is of a typical ATM we all use so often. Firstly, before we hit the numbers, make sure that no person is shoulder surfing, as in watching what you are doing trying to scam your PIN number. It is a common thing in the big cities, where your PIN is surfed and then your card may be pick pocketed from you, snatched or a card reader used which gets card information except the PIN, which they now have. Be careful.

Looking at the picture, no 1 is the card slot. Check this every time to see that a wafer thin card reader is inside which can scam the details from your card. Run your finger along it and see if anything seems out of place or not quite right. If it is, don't use it and report it to the bank.

2 links in with 1 as this is a common place for tiny cameras to be inserted by criminal gangs, so that when you put your card in and there is a reader in it, the camera sees you tapping in your PIN and the card and the PIN are married up so the information neede to clone the card is available to use. Always check for anything unusual and again report it if anything seems out of place.

3 is the keypad. Always, ALWAYS cover it up when you use it. I either use my hand or a wallet and key in the PIN so that if there is anything I have missed, then they don't have the PIN to go with it.

Rotty · 15 Mar 2006 at 00:47

and 4 . never let the missus look after your card , the crooks will always spend less :eek:

Von Smallhausen · 15 Mar 2006 at 00:49

Rotty said:
and 4 . never let the missus look after your card , the crooks will always spend less

LOL.

Rotty 1. Von Smallhausen 0

Mrs Rotty 6. Rotty 0.

Rotty · 15 Mar 2006 at 01:02

Von Smallhausen said:
Mrs Rotty 6. Rotty 0.

well and truly hammered

Berserker · 15 Mar 2006 at 01:31

Good advice if ever I saw it.

The card slot one always gets me. I've seen genuine lebanese loops and I'm still not entirely sure how to spot when there's something dodgy in the card slot. :confused:

Other classic signs to look out for:

1) Devices on/around the card readers used to open bank doors. Criminals have even been known to copy the official bank readers and stick their own copy next to the real one.

2) Paper 'out of order' signs stuck to machines. Most machines tell you they're not working on the screen. If you see a sign that doesn't look right, it may be criminals trying to direct you towards a machine they've tampered with.

3) Distraction tactics (the old classics like telling you that you have dropped some money). While you're looking for that money you didn't drop, they're off with whatever you left in the cash machine.

Be alert. If you're in any way unsure, find another cashpoint.

Cybermyk · 15 Mar 2006 at 02:01

I'm very wary in supermarkets too. Quite a few times recently I've had to ask people to move away. People are pushy at checkouts but they won't make me go faster by standing next to me as I enter my PIN.

McDaniel · 15 Mar 2006 at 02:11

Another thing to look out for is leaflet holders, especially on ATM in lobbies that may be open 24hours.

They look like just normal leaflet holders, or info board but they may have cameras attatched to those also. So basically just look out for anything that would have a good birds eye view of the PIN number.

Also if your worried at all, contact your bank, or even alter your PIN number straight away at another ATM - as if you change the PIN the card details would be useless as the way its cloned means it can onyl be used in ATM's...or someone at a shop who will expect a completely blank gold looking card

Other then that, top notch advice.

Alex_L · 15 Mar 2006 at 02:22

i'm paranoid about atm's after knowing someone who got scammed by a tampered one, so i tend to only use ones inside a bank branch if possible or get cashback in the supermarket,

McDaniel · 15 Mar 2006 at 02:26

Berserker said:
Good advice if ever I saw it.

The card slot one always gets me. I've seen genuine lebanese loops and I'm still not entirely sure how to spot when there's something dodgy in the card slot.

.

Its hard to explain and there are different varieties, its best to just run your finger along the the slot, if anything is wobble or loose - its not a good sign.

I remember having a call once about a ladyy who used an ATM in a local pub, and found out the next day the actual ATM had been nicked LOL, she wanted to know wether or not to block the card.

Arcade Fire · 15 Mar 2006 at 03:19

Good thread, cheers.

-Mike- · 15 Mar 2006 at 03:21

Very interesting read, have some *****'s

Siliconslave · 15 Mar 2006 at 04:54

i don't know, this thread is useless, its hardly given me any ideas on how to commit card fraud at all!

One thing i will add is keep an eye on your bank accounts, the sooner you catch someone cloneing your card the better, phone up your bank straight away if you see anything slightly dodgey on there and they'll cancel your card and help you through what to do next.

If you think you see anything dodgey with a machine either go inside and tell the bank if their open, or phone the number displayed on the screen (they usually have one) and they'll sort it out (have done this once before and they shut down the machine remotely and got someone to come out to look at it the next day)

Priest · 15 Mar 2006 at 08:49

Sound advice.

I tend to use cash machines that are inside supermarkets. While it’s not impossible to tamper with them, the security & cameras should put off scammers.

Freefaller · 15 Mar 2006 at 09:22

I dislike all the cameras in petrol stations, there seem to be everywhere and some directly over the pin pad which is a bit disconcerting!

Great advice Von.

Kerplunk · 15 Mar 2006 at 09:25

Brilliant thread Vinny Smellhausen.

Good read, and useful.

encephalopathy · 15 Mar 2006 at 09:37

and if you see anyone drilling into the side of an atm carrying a gas cannister then turn and use another atm!!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/14/exploding_atm_attack/

the other sensible bit of advice is if you do find skimming equipment/hidden camera on an atm, leave it there and phone the police - if you try and remove it quite often the crims are watching nearby and things could turn nasty.....

iv-tecman · 15 Mar 2006 at 09:43

BUSH said:
i'm paranoid about atm's after knowing someone who got scammed by a tampered one, so i tend to only use ones inside a bank branch if possible or get cashback in the supermarket,

Not as paranoid as me, I just do not use them period... If I can't get to the bank to draw cash out or pay by card at a till, and see my card at all times, I just go without...

Many times I think, hmm could do with a few quid - bah bank is closed, not getting cash back, oh well I'll go without then.

Sound advice to always check the AT machines though, I never use them so perhaps I'd be the one to get caught out, so for this I'll continue to not use them.

I even have another current account that I use for online purchases, where I transfer money over to each month, so as I'm not using the same account my bills come out of..

_Jimlad_ · 15 Mar 2006 at 10:05

Freefaller said:
I dislike all the cameras in petrol stations, there seem to be everywhere and some directly over the pin pad which is a bit disconcerting!

yeah very true, i noticed that at my local tesco extra.

Davey_Pitch · 15 Mar 2006 at 10:24

Excellent advice Von, have some *'s on me

neil3k · 15 Mar 2006 at 10:28

This is also important.

Make sure you shred any correspondance from your bank especially statements, credit card bills etc as these have account information generally printed on.

Otherwise good thread.