Recent ATM Fraud

Hertfordshire Constabulary issued a warning to residents recently following several thefts after bank cards had been retained by ATMs.

Fourteen offences were originally identified during June, with reports that bank cards were retained by ATMs and cash had later been withdrawn from accounts after the loss of the card.

Detective Sergeant Mark Fava, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit, said: ‘Following an investigation carried out by experts within the banking industry, it appears that in each of the reported thefts the machines retained the victim’s bank card due to a discreet device which had been placed over the card slot of the machine. Initially it was thought that the device was scanning the cards and then transmitting the details and PIN to the offender. However, in each case it appears that the offender, or accomplice, has watched the victim input the PIN and then retrieved the trapped card. The offender has then later used the stolen card and PIN at another ATM.

‘The best way to avoid this happening to you is to cancel or suspend your bank card if it is retained by an ATM. If you have a banking app on your phone you may be able to freeze your card temporarily until you can establish what has happened. Alternatively, you may need to call your bank to cancel or suspend the card until it has been recovered.

‘As well as all the usual precautions you take when withdrawing cash, like shielding the keypad, when typing in your PIN, you should always examine the machine before use. If anything looks out of place or it has any parts which appear to have been added, do not use it and report your suspicions to the bank. If the machine fails to return your card or any cash you have withdrawn, you should contact your bank to inform them and then the police on our non-emergency number 101.’

Please take the following precautions when using cash machines:

• Always look closely at the card insertion point of a cash machine before using it. If it looks like it may have been tampered with, do not use it.
• If you realise the machine has been tampered with after you have inserted your card, call your bank while still standing at the cash machine if it is safe to do so.
• Always shield your hand when entering your PIN into a cash point keypad.
• If the machine retains your card or fails to dispense cash you have withdrawn, without a suitable explanation message on the screen, contact your bank immediately and then police on the non-emergency number 101.