Beware credit/debit card skimming at ATMs

What really frustrates me about this is, I wrote to the banks last year about an incident involving a group of about 6 or more of these skimmers working a set of ATM's in Cape Town.
They targeted a shopping plaza where there was a banking centre with Standard, First National and Nedbank ATMs all within a few metres of each other.
I approached the one machine, having seen that my bank's ATM was down. There were two people at the other bank's ATM as I approached. The one guy "finishes" up, and then steps aside, but stays no further than 3 or 4 short steps from the machine. I put my card in, and turn round to see where he's standing. He comes up and presses a button on the machine, and says "Oh be careful or it will double-charge you".
The machine seemed odd in that button inputs seemed laggy and unresponsive, so I pull my card out and leave. I do a bit of shopping and then return to see the dude's are gone. So i think I can finally (safely) use the ATM.
I head to yet another bank's atm (seeing as I was going to get charged for using another bank's atm anyway). A lady, looking to be in her 40'5 to early 50's - respectably dressed as well, finishes up at the ATM, and steps aside.
And I'm thinking to myself...hmmm. Step aside and walk away lady...
She stands there still next to the ATM, looking to be putting away her cash and inspecting her receipt. and says she's done with the ATM in a friendly fashion
As I try put my card in, she steps forward and presses a button on the machine.
I hadn't even put my card in fully at this stage - and so I pull it out. The lady panics and implores me to continue as I would get "double-charged" otherwise.
I had had enough at this stage, and so I left. Foolishly I didn't call the police, but as I was leaving I think I spotted the two dudes from earlier chatting in a group of other guys who also seemed to have been at the ATM's just moments earlier.
Sent an email to all 4 major banks' fraud divisions; and got 2 replies. one was basically a copy-and-paste job from their website, while the other was hurried, but at least written in direct response.
The other 2 didn't bother to respond at all...
 
They can skim my card all they like, won't help when there's no money in the account :p
 
Anyone touches my Banking sheit, I'll deck them. Thanks for the MO though ;)
 
Yes but that is the old MO. I have seen photos of the new devices fitted to ATMs, and I could not see it. At all. With the camera, there is no need anymore for anyone to be loitering around. They install it and later come and uninstall and then have a lot of peoples details. Scary!
 
True that bud, but I think in the words of Rorschach "People have to be told!"
Was just disappointed that the banks didn't seem interested in getting any futher details that might have helped them figure out who and what these people were up to. It's one thing to be told to do x and y at an ATM, but it's another when you're in that situation, and there's a network of baddies working very hard to make sure they succeed.
 
Cameras...lol good luck with that. I've always got my wallet in my left hand anyway @ ATMs and use it to cover my pin hand. If the crooks can still make out the pin despite that well then they deserve a cash prize.
 
This is old news and anyone who gets caught by this needs to catch a wake up. Yeah, you need to be ultra-vigilant when you use ATMs and loudly tell anyone who approaches you to GTFO! If there is anything protruding from the card intake then don't use the machine at all. Always cover the keypad with your other hand when you key in your pin. Common sense really.
 
I always cover the keypad when putting my pin in. If I do it blind then I know no one else can see what I am doing.
 
dudesweet said:
What really frustrates me about this is, I wrote to the banks last year about an incident involving a group of about 6 or more of these skimmers working a set of ATM's in Cape Town.
They targeted a shopping plaza where there was a banking centre with Standard, First National and Nedbank ATMs all within a few metres of each other.
I approached the one machine, having seen that my bank's ATM was down. There were two people at the other bank's ATM as I approached. The one guy "finishes" up, and then steps aside, but stays no further than 3 or 4 short steps from the machine. I put my card in, and turn round to see where he's standing. He comes up and presses a button on the machine, and says "Oh be careful or it will double-charge you".
The machine seemed odd in that button inputs seemed laggy and unresponsive, so I pull my card out and leave. I do a bit of shopping and then return to see the dude's are gone. So i think I can finally (safely) use the ATM.
I head to yet another bank's atm (seeing as I was going to get charged for using another bank's atm anyway). A lady, looking to be in her 40'5 to early 50's - respectably dressed as well, finishes up at the ATM, and steps aside.
And I'm thinking to myself...hmmm. Step aside and walk away lady...
She stands there still next to the ATM, looking to be putting away her cash and inspecting her receipt. and says she's done with the ATM in a friendly fashion
As I try put my card in, she steps forward and presses a button on the machine.
I hadn't even put my card in fully at this stage - and so I pull it out. The lady panics and implores me to continue as I would get "double-charged" otherwise.
I had had enough at this stage, and so I left. Foolishly I didn't call the police, but as I was leaving I think I spotted the two dudes from earlier chatting in a group of other guys who also seemed to have been at the ATM's just moments earlier.
Sent an email to all 4 major banks' fraud divisions; and got 2 replies. one was basically a copy-and-paste job from their website, while the other was hurried, but at least written in direct response.
The other 2 didn't bother to respond at all...
Click to expand...

Dude, you are either way too trusting or just plain naive. I would have called the cops right then and there from my cellphone after the very first incident. How did you not realise what was going down?
 
Oh look, here's FNB punting their "Get a credit card with a chip in it" line, and using scare tactics.

Just remember, once you have a credit card with a chip in it, all fraudulent transactions on that card become 100% your fault.
Read the terms and conditions very carefully.
 
So why not just send out a SMS that you have to reply to on your cellphone before the bank gives you money?
 
davemc said:
Oh look, here's FNB punting their "Get a credit card with a chip in it" line, and using scare tactics.

Just remember, once you have a credit card with a chip in it, all fraudulent transactions on that card become 100% your fault.
Read the terms and conditions very carefully.
Click to expand...

My personal banker at FNB even recommends the non chip and pin cards, as to protect you from fraud. If you have a PIN, then its your responsibility if someone gets access to that number.
 
Garyvdh said:
This is old news and anyone who gets caught by this needs to catch a wake up. Yeah, you need to be ultra-vigilant when you use ATMs and loudly tell anyone who approaches you to GTFO! If there is anything protruding from the card intake then don't use the machine at all. Always cover the keypad with your other hand when you key in your pin. Common sense really.
Click to expand...
+1 this is really old news and has been going on for years! Anybody that speaks to you at an ATM is a fraudster.. it is common sense!
 
davemc said:
Oh look, here's FNB punting their "Get a credit card with a chip in it" line, and using scare tactics.

Just remember, once you have a credit card with a chip in it, all fraudulent transactions on that card become 100% your fault.
Read the terms and conditions very carefully.
Click to expand...

Well it's not as simple as that. If your card+pin is compromised whether you have a chip or not, you would be liable first.

As Nedbank put it:
Previously, merchants and banks carried most of the risk and liability for fraudulent transactions. But now the liability for fraudulent transactions has shifted to the party who isn’t compliant with EMV CHIP technology. So, if a fraudulent transaction could have been prevented by CHIP technology, but the card issuing bank or the owner of the point-of-sale device (merchant/bank) wasn’t compliant, then the bank or retailer will be liable. Who is the liable party will be determined following an investigation
Click to expand...

So yes, if they got your pin AND card , you will be liable if they use the pin+card at a store. But this is no different than them taking your credit card and withdrawing money from an ATM using your pin , and last i checked you're liable for that anyway chip card or not.

Simply put : If they got your pin and your card and do transactions involving your pin : You are screwed , chip card or not.
 
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Honestly, some of these people don't use cameras to record pins anymore (especially overseas).
They've replaced the button pads with their own, thus no matter how you cover your hand, they'll be able to know exactly what you typed.
Together with replacing the entry point (place where you put your card in) with a card reader. (scary!)

The safest way to know if you've been conned is to have the bank notify you via sms and email in all your transactions.
 
My issue with the credit cards with chips in is that you now have to expose your PIN for every transaction you make on it whereas before there was no pin and shop staff actually had to look at a signature and make a call as to if it was genuine or not. This exposes one to far more risk and on ones Credit card too whereas a standard ATM generally has much lower limits.
 
davemc said:
Oh look, here's FNB punting their "Get a credit card with a chip in it" line, and using scare tactics.

Just remember, once you have a credit card with a chip in it, all fraudulent transactions on that card become 100% your fault.
Read the terms and conditions very carefully.
Click to expand...

That may be true for FNB.

I have had three cases of card fraud in the last year. Two of these happened with Chip+PIN cards. In all cases the fraudulent transactions were reversed reasonably fast, I got every cent back and my bank's service has been exemplary on this.
 
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