Chip & pin debit card cloning

Alex32

Lgbarfc wrote: »

Hi all,
I'm in need of absolute confirmation before I potentially have a very difficult conversation with my partner.
Can a chip & pin debit card be cloned & pin number recorded so that a criminal can make withdrawals from that card at cash machines?
TIA

Yes, the card can be cloned & the pin recorded.
Some ATM's will likely to have a CCTV camera nearby, also the cloned card can be used to buy stuff in shops & online.

simongregson

It is actually quite difficult to clone the card itself (the chip part). Most card thefts in the UK involve the pin being found out and then the physical card being used due to the difficulty in cloning the chip (pickpocketed or retained in a tampered machine), or the magnetic stripe being cloned and then the card used somewhere without chip and pin or online.

It is not likely that someone would go to the trouble of cloning the chip (which is very complicated to do to the extent that it has only been shown to be possible by using very elaborate technology) and then would withdraw small sums of money over a long period of time. It just wouldn't be worth it...

Zanderman

eskbanker wrote: »

Ask yourself this:

If someone had gone to all the effort of cloning his card for fraudulent purposes, what are the chances that they'd then use it only at ATMs that your partner uses and for a set of small withdrawals over a six week period?

This^^^^

If his card had been cloned and his pin acquired the criminal who did it would have cleared the account asap - in the realistic expectation that the very first transaction would be reported as fraud and the card stopped immediately, not 6 weeks later. The criminal would not have waited weeks taking out small sums and still be active!

So, basically, is your partner lying or has he been defrauded by an astonishingly laid-back criminal.

Plus, why oh why did it take him 6 weeks to notice fraudulent activity - if indeed it was fraudulent.

Good luck with that awkward conversation.

msallen

Zanderman wrote: »

So, basically, is your partner lying or has he been defrauded by an astonishingly laid-back criminal.

... or has someone else got access to his card when he leaves it unattended (a work colleague or a relative for example) and has found out his PIN.

Ben8282

Can he really remember every cash withdrawal made at the ATM over the last 6 weeks?
Somebody appears to have very rapidly jumped to the conclusion that his card had been cloned and the PIN compromised without giving any thought to other possibilities. How exactly did your partner arrive at this conclusion? Did he look at the statement and suddenly announce 'There is £250 missing from my account. My card has been cloned and my PIN recorded'?
This is highly improbable and other replies have given some very good reasons why a fraudster would have not behaved in this manner.
Assuming that your partner really did not make these withdrawals, have you considered other possibilities.
If this ATM is near where he works, one highly likely possibility would be that a work colleague who has somehow found out what the PIN number is sneakily borrowing his card, making withdrawals then replacing the card.
If the ATM is near your home, then the same as above but replace work colleague with member of your household.
Alternatively he may have made the withdrawals himself and has forgotten. After all, neither of you appears to have checked this bank statement for over 6 weeks. This gives an impression of individuals who are not on top of their finances and record keeping.

wiseonesomeofthetime

As some have already stated, actually answering the OP's original question, Yes, it is possible.

Post #7 accurately describes the method.


However, other posters are also correct in that, having gone to the trouble of obtaining card details and PINs, offenders then use those to reduce the account holder's balance as quickly as possible before it is noticed and bank alerted.


£250 over six week period is unlikely from a cloned card, stolen details.


Trying to paint a positive outlook to this experience, do you regularly look at his balance and useage?


Is it possible that he was syphoning money away to treat you to a surprise gift for a forthcoming special occasion?


"Always look on the bright side of life" ����

badger09

OP hasn't (apparently) revisited the thread since 5th.

Perhaps she has her answer. Would be nice if she would report back though:cool: