The ABC reports:
Several ACT residents have contacted the ABC complaining that money was taken after they used either an electronic teller machine at Rudd Street in Civic, or one at Mawson in the past month.
Criminals use skimming devices to collect information from the magnetic strip on the back of ATM cards and steal funds.
In Europe the devices have become increasing sophisticated and include a miniature camera to record pin numbers.
Both illegal skimmers have now been removed and police are investigating.
Banks and credit unions are warning customers to avoid using ATMs which appear damaged, or have loose components or devices attached, and to inform staff immediately if they notice something suspicious.
UPDATE 28/11/12 13:02: ACT Policing has now issued a media release:
ACT Policing is investigating multiple reports of suspected fraud by offenders using sophisticated “skimming” devices attached to Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) within the ACT.
Police believe offenders are attaching a device to the fascia of an ATM, which is then used to scan the data from the card’s magnetic strip. The PIN entered into the machine is then captured using a small camera linked to the device.
This is similar “skimming” technology to that which has been reported in other jurisdictions. ACT Policing’s Fraud Team will be liaising with detectives from other jurisdictions as part of its ongoing investigations.
More than a dozen examples of these unauthorised withdrawals from ATMs have been reported to police during November.
Police are warning customers to take precautions when using ATMs. They urge customers look for any irregular, unusual or suspicious devices attached to an ATM, and to use one hand to cover the other as the PIN number is entered into the keypad.
Police are working with the affected providers to investigate the suspected “skimming” incidents. Any suspicious behaviour around ATMs, or any ATM irregularities must be reported to the bank or credit union, and then to police on 131-444.
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