Beware of card skimming fraudsters
ATM and card users are warned of card fraudsters who use card skimming devices for fraudulent transactions.
Several scams are being used by card fraud perpetrators to target unsuspecting ATM users with the intention of skimming their bank cards, the South African Banking Information Centre (Sabric) said.
One tactic used by criminals is to claim to be working for a bank to an unsuspecting ATM user standing in an ATM queue and advising them to ‘re-activate’ their cards by swiping the card through a ‘card reactivating device’.
“Unbeknown to the victim, the device in the perpetrators’ possession is not a ‘card reactivating device’ but a hand-held skimming device. Often, there would be a second or even third accomplice loitering around the ATM shoulder, surfing for the customer’s PIN. The perpetrators would then use the information stolen through the skimming of the card to manufacture a counterfeit card, which when matched with the customer’s PIN, is used to make fraudulent transactions,” Sabric said.
The second popular tactic is used when a customer comes across an ATM that is damaged or tampered with. Card fraudsters approach an unsuspecting customer and escort him or her to another ATM, purportedly to assist them with making in making a withdrawal.
“What makes this scenario so alarming is that the victim is handed back their card, of course without noticing that it has been skimmed. The interaction that the perpetrator had with the customer on the way to the second ATM provides room for the perpetrator to stand next to the customer and memorise the customer’s PIN as it is being keyed in. The unsuspecting customer will only realise much later when money is being withdrawn from their account that they have fallen victim to a scam,” Sabric said.
Not only does card skimming take place at ATMs, Sabric says skimming of cards can take place at a merchant pay point. “In this particular scenario, personnel working at retail outlets such as waiters and cashiers are often provided with hand held skimming devices by card fraud perpetrators and rewarded for skimming customer’s cards,” said Sabric.
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