Thieves attempted a 'cash trapping' fraud on me at an ATM yesterday......BEWARE!

useless_git_requires_wife

It was a Post Office bank machine (I think the actual machine belongs to Bank of Ireland?), but I suppose that a different version of the device could be made for any bank machine.

Anyway....


Until now I'd never heard of 'cash trapping' in relation to ATM fraud so I'm starting this thread to increase awareness.

Here's what happened......

I went to use the machine. As usual, I checked the part where you put the card for signs of anything unusual....it all looked normal. The transaction (withdrawl of cash) all proceeded as normal....the machine counted the money, my card was returned and then it said 'please take your cash' or whatever....but it never came out .

When I looked at the point where the money is supposed to come out everything looked as normal, it was just that the silvery metallic flap hadn't risen up to spit out the money.....then the machine displays 'out of order' (it reset itself after 3 or 4 minutes and was ready to be used asgain). So at first I'm thinking hmmmm, perhaps it's because it's a bank holiday and the machine has run out of money or something. I had received a receipt from the machine however, telling me that the money had been paid out. I then examined the money 'exit flap' more closely and when I touched it I realised it had an overly plastic feel to it and that it also didn't appear to fit quite as flushly as one would expect. It was just the right colour though, and absolutely looked like it belonged to the machine until I REALLY examined it.

Long story short I called the police to explain what was going on and I stayed at the machine to stop others using it till they arrived (about 25 people came to try and use it during this period).

Later on, the police managed to remove the attachment and my money was sitting behind it. This means that the thief would have been able to simply take my money without even having to put a card in the machine.....just remove the false flap, collect the money and walk off.

So, please be very vigilant in inspecting these 'exit flaps' as well as the entrance point for your card.


p.s.....there is quite a bit more to the incident I'm not mentioning since the police are investigating and it may be best not to go into details. Suffice to say, though, that this type of crime requires the thief (or thieves) to be fairly close at hand. If this happens to you, just make sure that you call the police immediately and do as advised.

libra10

Thanks for the advice.

Have used a Post Office ATM today, everything OK but will watch out for this scam.

crazyguy

This scam has been going on for a few years and yes you are correct as they are normaly not to far away as to be able to collect the money shortly after every transaction, it used to be done a lot by the Albanians at one point and then the equipment became very cheap so lots more try there hand at it.

Where every possible I try and use machines inside a bank as you know there is little chance of these being tampered with.

meg72

Thanks for that, I had not heard of it. I usually try to draw cash fromthe Bank or get it as cash back when I shop.

NFH

Did you manage to get a photo? It was probably the last thing on your mind though.

McKneff

It amazes me how many people, whether at cash machines or supermarkets are so careless with their pin number.

Many a time i could if i so minded had mugged so many people after leaving the supermarket who had been in front of me and I have seen their pin number.

And at ATMs, ALWAYS cover your 'pin hand' with your other hand or purse. Some of these machines are fitted with cameras and are set to keep your card (like the cash in the 1st post) then they have your card and your pin number.

meer53

Personally, i would just walk away from the machine and call my bank to let them know i hadn't got the cash. I would also let them know of my suspicions, there is no way on earth i would hang about waiting for the Police to show up, it could be days ! If the fraudsters were nearby, which they probably were, i wouldn't imagine they'd politely ask you to step aside whilst they collected their cash.

MoneySaverLog

I wonder how many more unsuspecting people got conned before you noticed this?

useless_git_requires_wife

meer53 wrote: »

Personally, i would just walk away from the machine and call my bank to let them know i hadn't got the cash. I would also let them know of my suspicions, there is no way on earth i would hang about waiting for the Police to show up, it could be days ! If the fraudsters were nearby, which they probably were, i wouldn't imagine they'd politely ask you to step aside whilst they collected their cash.

I called my bank while waiting for the police and they told me the bank machine belongs to the Bank of Ireland? and that I may have to speak to them about it.

The police took about 45 minutes to arrive. I stayed by the machine because I had called the police and they said they would be there shortly.....also I wanted to warn others not to use the machine and also my cash was sitting in that machine and if I'd walked away.......;)

meer53

useless_git_requires_wife wrote: »

I called my bank while waiting for the police and they told me the bank machine belongs to the Bank of Ireland? and that I may have to speak to them about it.

The police took about 45 minutes to arrive. I stayed by the machine because I had called the police and they said they would be there shortly.....also I wanted to warn others not to use the machine and also my cash was sitting in that machine and if I'd walked away.......;)

When i said call your bank, i meant to report the fact that you didn't have your cash, not the fact that there was a device on the machine. It's not really down to you to sort out the problem with the machine, you only need to sort out the non receipt of the cash. I know you did it to help other people but what would you have done if the fraudsters had turned up before the police did ? It's not worth it, honestly. If you had walked away your bank would have refunded you in full once you explained what had happened. I work in the Fraud department of a bank by the way.

MoneySaverLog

meer53 wrote: »

When i said call your bank, i meant to report the fact that you didn't have your cash, not the fact that there was a device on the machine. It's not really down to you to sort out the problem with the machine, you only need to sort out the non receipt of the cash. I know you did it to help other people but what would you have done if the fraudsters had turned up before the police did ? It's not worth it, honestly. If you had walked away your bank would have refunded you in full once you explained what had happened. I work in the Fraud department of a bank by the way.

Are you sure about that. Surely there would have to be some kind of investigation first and the OP would have to wait for this to be completed thus out of pocket whilst it is investigated otherwise people would just claim that they took out £500 but the machine failed to deliver it.