ATM alert

Police are once again warning the public to be vigilant when using ‘hole in the wall’ cash machines after another device was found on a card machine in Moffat. This is the second time that a bank in the town has been targeted for this type of scam this year. The previous one being in March. The latest device was discovered at the bank of Scotland in the town on Saturday 8 October 2011 and police are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen any unusual activity around this ATM over the weekend Friday 7/Saturday 8 October timeline

Police are asking for the public’s help in reporting any suspicious activity near any cash dispensers to get in touch immediately.

Card skimming or cloning is a method used by criminals to obtain your details from your card. 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. The details are stored and then used fraudulently. Once the cardholder’s details have been obtained the fraudster’s will focus on getting hold of the cardholder’s personal Identification Number.

PINs can be obtained in two ways. Firstly by shoulder surfing, whereby the fraudster will tailgate and stand behind the cardholder and look over their shoulder as they enter their number. A second method is by the use of a micro camera which can be installed in the lighting or false trunking on a cash machine to focus on PIN entry. Real-time images are then transmitted to a receiver attached to a hand held camera, typically within 100 metres of the cash machine. The details will then be matched to the corresponding card data.

Any suspicious activity at or near any cash machine should be reported to the police immediately. Any suspicions about cash machines should also be reported, either to the bank or building society, or to the police if out of business hours.