14 DAY TRIAL // Queensland Police representatives warn people from the Brisbane central business district about a new ATM skimming operation initiated by a group of fraudsters whose main purpose is to steal valuable credit card information which they can use to clone cards.
The skimming devices almost perfectly replicate the part of the ATM in which the payment card is inserted. They also come with a pinhole camera that allows the crooks to record the victim’s PIN.
The public is advised to be extra careful when using ATMs, even if they’re in crowded locations.
Users should know that although the skimming devices are decently designed, they’re not perfect. An Australian who noticed one was even able to take it off because it wasn’t properly attached to the machine.
Detective Superintendent Brian Hay of the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group reveals that many people erroneously think that even if their credit cards are cloned and fraudulent transactions are performed, the bank will refund them and that will be the end of it.
Hay warns that this is not the case. Instead, this is “only the beginning,” because they can use the information obtained from the card to gain access to other personal details that are highly valuable for other identity theft-related crimes.