Strathclyde Police Warning on Credit Card Fraud and Other Associated Scams

Every year in the UK millions of pounds are lost as a result of credit card fraud. Criminals and their associates use various means to obtain your details, but there are steps you can take to help fight the problem.

Strathclyde Police Warning on Card Skimming and Cloning

In this type of fraud a device, created to look like the card entry point on the cash machine, is fitted over the genuine slot to passively skim the information encoded on the magnetic strip of the card. These details are stored and subsequently used fraudulently.

Once they have successfully obtained the cardholder's details, fraudsters will focus their attention on finding out the corresponding Personal Identification Number. PINs can be compromised in two ways. Firstly, by shoulder surfing, whereby the fraudster will tailgate behind the cardholder and look over their shoulder as they enter their number.
Secondly, there is increasing evidence of micro cameras being concealed within the lighting or false trunking around the ATM machine to focus on PIN entry. Real-time images are often transmitted to a receiver attached to a hand held camera, typically within 100 metres of the cash machine. The details will then be matched with the corresponding card data.

Once the threshold of compromised details has been reached the device will be removed and the information downloaded and used to create duplicate “cloned” cards.

Strathclyde Police Warning on Stolen Card Fraud

When a card is lost or stolen, it can be used until it is cancelled. Thieves can potentially buy goods worth thousands of pounds, before the owners become aware that they have been robbed. The problem has been exacerbated by the number of businesses now offering transactions over the phone, by fax or online. Since 1999, online credit card payments have increased five-fold, with around ten percent of all credit card spending now happening via the internet.

What you can do

A high-tech chip and PIN card system was introduced in a bid to tackle the issue, but credit card crime continues to rise.

So what can you do to stay secure and help foil the fraudsters?

•    Guard your card and details when making a transaction – do not let it out of your sight.
•    Shield your PIN when withdrawing cash from an ATM
•    Don’t write down information such as PINs, passwords or logins.
•    Don’t divulge your details in response to any emails, purporting to be from your bank or the police. When on the phone, only reveal your details if you made the call.
•    Access internet banking or shopping sites only by typing the address in your web browser.
•    Always check for the locked padlock or unbroken key security icons.
•    Shred documents and receipts, which contain your personal information.
•    Secure your computer with anti-virus software and a firewall.
•    Contact your bank or building society immediately, if your card is lost or stolen or you believe it may have been used fraudulently.