CASHPOINT fraud and how it works...

N9eav

Many 1000's of people have found that their bank account has been emptied without their knowing and they were the victim of a massive scam that is sweeping across the UK.
So how does it work and what do you have to watch out for?
1. The most simple type of scam at the cash point is the 'Lebanese loop'
This is a piece of tape, usually from a video cassette which is inserted in the cashpoint and retains your card, as it stops the machine from returning it. So you punch the numbers in the machine and it does nothing and your card is retained.
Meanwhile someone is watching you, notes your PIN and removes your card when you have gone and empties your account.
There are other varieties of this method but they basically do the same.

2. The SKIMMER. This is a device which is placed over the card slot. It contains a reading device, battery and storage chip. You put your card in, it reads the magnetic strip and stores it on the chip. After a while the criminal removes the device and plugs it into his computer and all the credit and debit card numbers are there and he can clone cards for use on the internet etc.
You won't know you have been had for quite some time.

3. The SKIMMER and CAMERA. This is really ingenious. This is mostly organised crime from Romania and other old East Euro countries being used here on us rich folks. They use hired hands to place the devices on the machines and they will be close by, parked in a car.

First the hired hand goes to the machine when it is quiet and places the skimmer over the card slot. Second a mini camera is placed above the keypad, it is usually disguised as part of the machine. Sometimes it may appear in a fake leaflet holder to the side of the keypad. Either way it's a camera linked by digital signal to a laptop nearby. You put your card in the slot and the skimmer reads the strip and retains the details. The camera watches you type your numbers in and it viewed by the henchman in the car. The 2 are married up and they have your card no and PIN.

Next several hundred clubcards are purloined from Tesco and the strips recorded with your information. That little white bit you normally sign is just the right size to write on the pin number they saw you type in.

Voila...one cloned card.

Go back to London or other major city and take your card and PIN and use is just before midnight, Maximum allowance taken out.... then after midnight another days allowance until you are bled dry over a few days or you find out and stop it. One session of skimming can net 1,000,000's of pounds

Very crafty. BUT Moneysavers are needed to help catch them out...

Here's how.
First look for any sign of tampering with the cashpoint. Most cashpoint slots have dirty clear plastic, flush mounted slots. If in doubt run your fingers over it. Anthing stuck proud off the face are suspect.

Look for odd bits of plastic mounted around and above the pin keypad.

Place your hand over the keypad, when typing with the other hiding your number.

If you card does not go in easily and the machine looks normal, don't use it.


The most common targets are supermarket machines and busy late night spots where you must have more beer and kebab money.

Look for odd people nearby. NEVER attempt to aprehend them unless you are trained as such.

Keep an eye out for people feeding several cards into a machine and taking out lots of cash.

If anything looks suspicious CALL POLICE 999 Try and note descriptions and reg numbers etc.

Hope this helps save us all some grief and put the CRILL behind bars

trafalgar_2

Thanks for those good tips

N9eav

One thing I forgot to add...don't try and remove the device. You may get attacked by the owner....

queensway_boy

Thanks for the info N9eav.

Greenstuff_2

Yes, thanks for going to the trouble of letting us know, I often wondered how to tell.

divadee

thanks for all of that

crazyh0rse

N9eav wrote: »

Many 1000's of people have found that their bank account has been emptied without their knowing and they were the victim of a massive scam that is sweeping across the UK.
So how does it work and what do you have to watch out for?
1. The most simple type of scam at the cash point is the 'Lebanese loop'
This is a piece of tape, usually from a video cassette which is inserted in the cashpoint and retains your card, as it stops the machine from returning it. So you punch the numbers in the machine and it does nothing and your card is retained.
Meanwhile someone is watching you, notes your PIN and removes your card when you have gone and empties your account.
There are other varieties of this method but they basically do the same.

2. The SKIMMER. This is a device which is placed over the card slot. It contains a reading device, battery and storage chip. You put your card in, it reads the magnetic strip and stores it on the chip. After a while the criminal removes the device and plugs it into his computer and all the credit and debit card numbers are there and he can clone cards for use on the internet etc.
You won't know you have been had for quite some time.

3. The SKIMMER and CAMERA. This is really ingenious. This is mostly organised crime from Romania and other old East Euro countries being used here on us rich folks. They use hired hands to place the devices on the machines and they will be close by, parked in a car.

First the hired hand goes to the machine when it is quiet and places the skimmer over the card slot. Second a mini camera is placed above the keypad, it is usually disguised as part of the machine. Sometimes it may appear in a fake leaflet holder to the side of the keypad. Either way it's a camera linked by digital signal to a laptop nearby. You put your card in the slot and the skimmer reads the strip and retains the details. The camera watches you type your numbers in and it viewed by the henchman in the car. The 2 are married up and they have your card no and PIN.

Next several hundred clubcards are purloined from Tesco and the strips recorded with your information. That little white bit you normally sign is just the right size to write on the pin number they saw you type in.

Voila...one cloned card.

Go back to London or other major city and take your card and PIN and use is just before midnight, Maximum allowance taken out.... then after midnight another days allowance until you are bled dry over a few days or you find out and stop it. One session of skimming can net 1,000,000's of pounds

Very crafty. BUT Moneysavers are needed to help catch them out...

Here's how.
First look for any sign of tampering with the cashpoint. Most cashpoint slots have dirty clear plastic, flush mounted slots. If in doubt run your fingers over it. Anthing stuck proud off the face are suspect.

Look for odd bits of plastic mounted around and above the pin keypad.

Place your hand over the keypad, when typing with the other hiding your number.

If you card does not go in easily and the machine looks normal, don't use it.


The most common targets are supermarket machines and busy late night spots where you must have more beer and kebab money.

Look for odd people nearby. NEVER attempt to aprehend them unless you are trained as such.

Keep an eye out for people feeding several cards into a machine and taking out lots of cash.

If anything looks suspicious CALL POLICE 999 Try and note descriptions and reg numbers etc.

Hope this helps save us all some grief and put the CRILL behind bars

Is there any website or does anyone have a picture of theese devices that people can view in order for them to know exactly what to look out for?

Browntoa

you are bumping a 6 year old thread ,as far as I'm aware the ATMs have been modified to stop the loop

the camera's and false fronts are normally stuck on , if in doubt pull at the card reader part



http://marshallsimcox.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/atm_skimmer.png?w=300&h=280

or a whole false front



http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/05/fun-with-atm-skimmers-part-iii/

Mankysteve

the designs vary but there are still about.

marleyboy

When I had my bank account scammed, I was fortunate that the bank got onto it pretty quick, they refunded my losses and replaced my card. The frightening point was how it got scammed.

It still baffles me but I was informed this scam was done using a discarded till receipt (it turned out to be from a shoe shop in Blackpool), where I purchased an item and paid by card, my discarded receipt was used (I still have no idea how).

Ever since, I am always aware of my till receipts when paying via card, I make sure I completely destroy them rather than haphazardly throw them away. My tip on this thread would be for members to be aware of discarding any till receipts when paying by card, ensuring they are rendered unreadable.

jenny2009

I know this is an old thread but a long time ago I worked in a petrol station and I once cancelled a petrol transaction by accident, just as the customer drove off.
It was my fault because I was working 2 tills at once while the other operator went to the toilet.

So I am panicing and wondering what to do when the other operator came back.

No problem she said, give me the card number from the cancelled receipt.

I know know how to charge a debit or credit card with only the card number.

I now pay for my petrol with cash.

This loophole may now be closed as this was 10 years ago.