New cashpoint fraud uncovered

The con so far has been a simple one: as the innocent victim tries to use the cash machine, it swallows up the card, advising the client to contact staff inside the bank. However, unbeknown to the customer, the machine has been previously tampered with, enabling the fraudsters to retrieve and use the card. However now Spanish police say they have uncovered a new type of fraud involving bank cashpoint machines. This time, miniature cameras are being used to copy cashcard pin numbers and withdraw thousands of euros from victims' accounts. Two men, believed to have struck up and down the Mediterranean coast of Spain and perhaps in the Balearics, have been arrested. The men are said to have secured camouflaged miniature cameras to cashpoint machines, and then attached new swipe card readers. Police say the men would wait in a nearby vehicle, while the concealed miniature camera relayed images of people typing in their confidential pin numbers. Meanwhile, the replaced swipe card reader transferred information to special computer software that replicated the cashcard's magnetic strip. Using this information, police say the men have stolen an estimated 36'000 euros from cashpoints at different locations. The arrests form part of an investigation by Spanish police called Operation Remote. Last summer in Majorca cashpoint fraud was rife and advice is for people to be fully aware of the potential implications when using a “faulty” cashpoint. Banks are trying to encourage more and more customers to use cashpoints.