Consumers warned against card skimming

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In a statement on Monday, Absa said that in spite of implementing new anti-skimming technology, card scamming was still taking place.

"The modus operandi for card skimmers involves the placing of sophisticated skimming devices over ATM card reader slots which enables the capture of data encoded on the card's magnetic strip.

"It happens through peering over the victim's shoulder to obtain the PIN number," Absa said.

Once the fraudsters had that information, the syndicates created a duplicate card and emptied the victim's account.

In some instances, syndicates chose a site with two ATMs and jammed one of the machines to block the insertion of the card.

While a customer struggled to insert the card, a syndicate member would offer to help, Absa explained.

"A victim will then be persuaded to hand the card over to the helper - a syndicate member, who offers to see if it will work in the other ATM, a trick that allows the thief to scan the targeted card with a skimming device hidden in his hand."

Absa said that once read, the card was inserted into the ATM and the victim was asked to enter the PIN.

"The card-holder remains blissfully unaware that a crime has been committed, often until it is too late."

Absa advised consumers not to use an ATM if they had difficulty inserting their cards into the machine.

It also advised against allowing strangers at an ATM to assist with banking.

"Never let anyone know the PIN you are using for your bank card or password you are using for internet banking," Absa said.

"If you feel that your PIN or password might have been compromised, change it immediately," the bank added.

It said that in restaurants or at points of sale, consumers' cards should never leave their sight.

"When entering your PIN at an ATM, stand closer to the ATM to prevent other people from seeing it.

"Also, use one hand to shield the key board when typing the PIN," Absa advised.

"Customers should always remember that without the correct PIN, an ATM card is useless," said Allen Mahadeo, general manager: Absa Group Self Service Channel.

"Therefore, card skimmers can be defeated by following simple precautionary steps," Mahadeo said.

Source: Sapa

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