17 February 2009

Beware! Hot ATM Card-Skimming Action in Canberra

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Just a quick warning that there may be some Card-Skimming going on in Canberra.

A friend of mine had a sum of money withdrawn from an ATM in Sydney over the weekend, even though he is in Canberra and his ATM Card is still in his pocket.

He has been down to the bank and they believe that a device may have been attached to the ATM’s just inside the Commonwealth Bank on the corner of London Circuit & Ainslie Avenue in Civic. He used the ATM on Thursday 12th February around 7pm.

Be alarmed, be very, very alarmed!

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With all the components that you can buy openly on the net, i doubt that you would notice if a device had been attached.

tylersmayhem9:54 am 18 Feb 09

And further to post #8: ALWAYS cover your hand with your other hand or wallet or bag or whatever when entering your pin. While your card could get scanned, it’s useless without the PIN number.

After living in London for a number of years, it was amazing how often you’d see a card scanner on an ATM. I was very quick to take on the approach of the Londoners and always cover my hand when entering my PIN. It’s something I’ll always do.

Holden Caulfield10:42 pm 17 Feb 09

~lolz!

Report it to Crimestoppers (1800 333 000), police, and the bank instead of using it.
Oh, and dont touch it, it is evidence.

Or steal it and use it yourself. Although I am guessing a car will pull up beside you a minute later and some gentlemen will ask for their equipment back.

Strangely simplistic advice, but if an ATM looks like it has something else attached to the card slot, or an easily visible camera aimed at the keys instead of at you, don’t use it.

The ‘extra’ thing over the slot is actually reading & storing the data off the magnetic strip on your card (to be later ghosted onto a card blank), and the camera is recording your PIN, (which will be later used to authenticate the transaction).

Report it to Crimestoppers (1800 333 000), police, and the bank instead of using it.
Oh, and dont touch it, it is evidence.

Maybe it’s just one of them rascally Iraqi folk training at the CIT. Now you know why it’s so secret. It saves you having to be alarmed, very alarmed.

attached to all the ATM’s there, or just one of the machines ?

tylersmayhem3:59 pm 17 Feb 09

What bank does your friend belong to hk0reduck?

My friend was told it would take 4-6 weeks to get his money back.

They emptied his account too. Only $4 left to his name 😉

tylersmayhem3:29 pm 17 Feb 09

I too had money taken from my account after using the same ATM in London Circuit on Sat. 15th. In fact they emptied my account.

What has the bank’s response been Wallye?

I too had money taken from my account after using the same ATM in London Circuit on Sat. 15th. In fact they emptied my account.

Be alarmed, be very, very alarmed!

Or just have a look at an ATM before using it, hope that banks will continue to refund stolen money to accounts, and get on with life.

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