Christmas is around the corner and most residents have started gift shopping. Due to many shoppers carrying more cash and frequently using ATMs, criminals and scam artists are also more active.
Several cases of card cloning and ATM fraud have occurred in the area and residents are urged to be vigilant when doing transactions.
When paying with a card, ensure that you keep it in view at all times. Small skimming devices can fit in the palm of a hand and easily be used to get all the relevant information from your card.
When the cashier returns it to you, check whether it is yours as criminals have been known to swap activated cards with expired ones.
When drawing money at an ATM, check that the keypad and card slot are properly fastened, ensuring that there are no suspicious components attached to the device. If you suspect that it has been tampered with, cancel your transaction and immediately report it to the relevant bank.
Security companies in the area have reported that criminals targeting ATMs are active in the area. They reportedly hide a camera and then sit nearby and work from a laptop to get your pin.
