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Card skim fraud is back
CARD skimmers have struck at a bank in Dorchester leaving customers hundreds of pounds out of pocket.
The cash machine at Barclays Bank, South Street, is thought to have been bugged with a device that reads customers' bank details and allows money to be taken from their accounts.
Paul Simmons, 29, a waste collector for West Dorset District Council, said he lost £470 from his account soon after he used the cash machine to take money out.
He said: "Me and my girlfriend have just moved into a property in Frampton.
"My rent was due out on the same day this happened but it didn't go. My landlady wasn't too happy."
He said the theft had led him to incur extra bank charges.
His money has not yet been refunded.
Mr Simmons added: "I know people who have had this happen and get the money back straight away."
Kelly Crabb of Alfred Road, Dorchester, has also fallen victim at the same machine. She said her details were skimmed and £740 was taken from her Barclays account over three days.
Mrs Crabb said: "The thieves have left me with no money and I've been advised by Barclays that it will take at least 10-14 days to return the money to my account.
"I have always regarded myself as fairly vigilant as I always try to check the cash points before I use them, but I didn't see a thing!"
A Barclays spokesman confirmed there had been an issue with a skimming device.
She said all Barclays cash machines are fitted with anti-skimming devices but a new technique was helping criminals overcome the device.
She said: "We take this type of fraud extremely seriously and are continuously looking for ways to stay one step ahead of fraudsters.
"We encourage customers to continue to be vigilant by checking their bank statements and balances regularly, and in all cases where a Barclays customer is a genuine victim of fraudulent activity, we will cover any losses they experience."
A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We have received a report of an economic crime taking place.
"A card holder has been asked to contact their bank and inform them of the fraud.
"The bank will make enquiries and if they feel that a criminal investigation is required they will contact the police with details."
10:33am Saturday 5th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 6:44pm Sat 5 Jul 08
[quote]A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We have received a report of an economic crime taking place.[/quote] And will, no doubt, put more effort into this than the other crimes reported on this page today?[quote]She said all Barclays cash machines are fitted with anti-skimming devices but a new technique was helping criminals overcome the device.[/quote] With all your billions, how come, yet again, your one step BEHIND a group of people with some electronic & computer skills?
A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We have received a report of an economic crime taking place.
And will, no doubt, put more effort into this than the other crimes reported on this page today?
She said all Barclays cash machines are fitted with anti-skimming devices but a new technique was helping criminals overcome the device.
With all your billions, how come, yet again, your one step BEHIND a group of people with some electronic & computer skills?
Posted by: MIG, Poole on 8:16pm Sat 5 Jul 08
'an economic crime'
Where on earth did they get that euphemism from? and what does it actually mean in this context?
Well I suppose they have to give it a name for the statistics and at least it's not the now normal and meaningless American slang word lifted from 1980s Tv programmes.
Note also, Several victims and several different times that the device functioned but only ONE crime reported...
'an economic crime'
Where on earth did they get that euphemism from? and what does it actually mean in this context?
Well I suppose they have to give it a name for the statistics and at least it's not the now normal and meaningless American slang word lifted from 1980s Tv programmes.
Note also, Several victims and several different times that the device functioned but only ONE crime reported...
Posted by: Voice Of Reason, Weymouth on 10:15pm Sat 5 Jul 08
CCTV is present in Dorchester. Maybe (just maybe) someone should review the footage around the times that these people used the ATM. Also, the banks use CCTV- maybe this has recorded someone tampering with the machine? When using an ATM, check the card slot, COVER YOUR PIN and look around you to see if anyone is loitering (ESPECIALLY if they have a mobile phone and look as if they are texting- they may be making a note of your PIN number). Cover your PIN, and although they may have "skimmed" your details, without your PIN it is harder for them to use the card.
CCTV is present in Dorchester. Maybe (just maybe) someone should review the footage around the times that these people used the ATM. Also, the banks use CCTV- maybe this has recorded someone tampering with the machine? When using an ATM, check the card slot, COVER YOUR PIN and look around you to see if anyone is loitering (ESPECIALLY if they have a mobile phone and look as if they are texting- they may be making a note of your PIN number). Cover your PIN, and although they may have "skimmed" your details, without your PIN it is harder for them to use the card.
Posted by: flaneur on 10:52pm Sat 5 Jul 08
CCTV is there to keep the likes of you in line.
As has been shown it has had no impact on levels crime.
CCTV is there to keep the likes of you in line.
As has been shown it has had no impact on levels crime.
Posted by: Alan Barrington, Weymouth on 4:22am Sun 6 Jul 08
[quote]"The bank will make enquiries and if they feel that a criminal investigation is required they will contact the police with details."[/quote]
In other words "We don't care, contact your insurance company or the bank and get your money back"
"The bank will make enquiries and if they feel that a criminal investigation is required they will contact the police with details."
In other words "We don't care, contact your insurance company or the bank and get your money back"
Posted by: genghis, portland on 1:08pm Sun 6 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Alan Barrington[/bold] wrote:
[quote]"The bank will make enquiries and if they feel that a criminal investigation is required they will contact the police with details."[/quote] In other words "We don't care, contact your insurance company or the bank and get your money back"[/quote] Quite a quick response for the Police though. The Dorchester Road garage had a year long investigation before the Police confirmed they couldn't be bothered anymore and drew a line under the whole affair.
Alan Barrington wrote:
"The bank will make enquiries and if they feel that a criminal investigation is required they will contact the police with details."
In other words "We don't care, contact your insurance company or the bank and get your money back"
Quite a quick response for the Police though. The Dorchester Road garage had a year long investigation before the Police confirmed they couldn't be bothered anymore and drew a line under the whole affair.
Posted by: local resident, weymouth on 5:00pm Sun 6 Jul 08
A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We have received a report of an economic crime taking place.
This means it too difficult for us to detect. Like the one at the shell garage. You will get you money back,,so go away.
A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We have received a report of an economic crime taking place.
This means it too difficult for us to detect. Like the one at the shell garage. You will get you money back,,so go away.
Posted by: Harold, dorchester on 6:26pm Tue 8 Jul 08
What the Police really mean is the culprits are highly likely to be Eastern Europeans and will be out of the country before they can trace them.Of course they cannot say this themselves as they would be accused of racism,as I now will be.
What the Police really mean is the culprits are highly likely to be Eastern Europeans and will be out of the country before they can trace them.Of course they cannot say this themselves as they would be accused of racism,as I now will be.
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