Almost had my card cloned - Bank disappointed me

empfun

bluesnice wrote:

can anyone post a link to a picture of one of these devises? I've never seen one.

thanks

You're welcome bluesnice.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/atmcamera.asp

Flashfly

I’ll expand on my initial post to help provide a bit more info.

The ATM that these units were attached to was my local machine. Ironically enough I was suspicious of this machine last summer because it took a long time to take my card. It turns out that the machine was just a bit knackered.

My initial thought upon using the machine the other night was – “Thank goodness they’ve fixed the old machine”. It was then that I spotted the camera unit. This bit of the device hadn’t been stuck on well enough and it was positioned strangely. I grabbed it and it fell off. My next reactions were probably driven by emotion more than common sense. I ripped off the card reader to prove to myself that it was the scam it seemed.

As regards my personal safety I agree I might have been foolish. After the event I knew it was likely we were being watched. In fact I think we were being watched from a local bus stop – nobody suspects someone waiting for a bus do they. I was lucky I was in a group of 5. I don’t think I would have waited around on my own. As it turned out one of our group is a SOCO (Scenes of Crime Officer). He tells me that the most likely place for fingerprints is on the electrical components of the device.

For info - The device fitted to my local machine was not similar to that in the picture. The crooks tailor-make devices to look like the machine they are fitting it too.

Thanks,
Flashfly.

Paul_Varjak

Flashfly wrote:

As it turned out one of our group is a SOCO (Scenes of Crime Officer). He tells me that the most likely place for fingerprints is on the electrical components of the device..

The SOCO may be correct, but fingerprints on the components may only lead to the person making the device. It may only be an offence to use them, but not an offence to make or sell them!

Flashfly

Paul_Varjak wrote:

The SOCO may be correct, but fingerprints on the components may only lead to the person making the device. It may only be an offence to use them, but not an offence to make or sell them!

Sorry I should have been more clear-

My friend specifically highlighted the sticky masking tape as being a good place to find prints.

lipidicman

My friend did the same - ripped the bits off the cash machine - two 'very friendly gentlemen' then seemed 'concerned' and when he said he was going to take it to a nearby Police Station they 'very kindly' offered to do it themselves. However he was sufficiently angry at being scammed, and sufficiently large that he got away with it - a braver person than I! So you can be sure you were being watched - the transmitters are short range and these guys keep an eye on their kit!

CopperPlate_2

The link shows some good pictures of the scams used by these people.

Some simple checks when you go to any ATM can really reduce the likelihood you'll get scammed.

1. Check the slot you insert your card into - is there any sign of any 'extra' pieces of plastic in the slot? Do the edges of the slot look thicker than normal?

2. Are there any extra fitments along the top edge of the ATM that would look down on the keypad? Normally most ATMS have flat, smooth, moulded edges and no extra 'ledges' along the top or bars/strips attached that could house a small pinhole camera.

3. Is anyone paying particular interest in your transaction behind you? Shoulder surfing is becoming a particularly easy way of checking out someone's PIN. As has already been said there will be someone nearby with a tranmission device (probably only about 100 yard or so) waiting to pick up the details transmitted by the reader. If they have that information, and a shoulder surfer picks up the PIN you typed in, they don't need to have the camera attached.

4. There is more information on http://www.cardwatch.org.uk regarding this sort of crime.

CP

lipidicman

CopperPlate wrote:

Shoulder surfing is becoming a particularly easy way of checking out someone's PIN. As has already been said there will be someone nearby with a tranmission device (probably only about 100 yard or so) waiting to pick up the details transmitted by the reader. If they have that information, and a shoulder surfer picks up the PIN you typed in, they don't need to have the camera attached.

I wont use a machine when there is a queue, unless it is a nice little old lady (who I would let go before me anyway!)

Take it easy

CopperPlate_2

It's all about being aware of what's happening around about you. Chip and PIN is forcing criminals to find more elaborate ways to obtain access to cards and accounts. How many of us really take care when inputting our PIN's to the checkout terminals in stores? Is that guy standing in the queue behind me taking a little bit too much interest?

CP