Brisbane ATM card scam

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An international crime gang may be targeting Brisbane automatic teller machine (ATM) users with card-skimming machines, Queensland Police revealed today. Fraud Squad detectives are investigating the location of a card-skimming device attached to a National Australia Bank ATM in Brisbane yesterday. A member of the public used the ATM at Eagle Street Pier about 5.20pm, but had difficulty inserting his card in the slot. The man became suspicious and discovered attachments affixed to the ATM, which he removed. He then contacted police and the NAB."Investigations reveal that the attachments are identical to those located on a NAB ATM in Sydney on March 15," Fraud Squad Inspector Brian Hay said."Security footage of that incident shows two men acting suspiciously near the ATM."It is believed that the same group, thought to be an international crime gang, was also responsible for a similar card skimming incident on March 12, also in Sydney."The offenders are believed to be European and speak with a strong accent."We are urging members of the public to remain vigilant when using ATMs and to report any suspicious-looking or loose-fitting ATM attachments or other suspicious activity to police or the financial institution immediately," Inspector Hay said."The public are also reminded to be careful to keep their PIN secure when using ATMs and point-of-sale merchant facilities."The card skimming device's reader collects an impression of the card's magnetic strip and stores the data on a chip located at the back of the device. A metal frame, made to fit the ATM, conceals a mobile phone which takes footage of users entering their pin number. Police said initial investigations suggested the former bank employee who found the device was one of the first people to use the skimmed ATM. However, people who have used the ATM since were in no danger of having their financial details stolen. Inspector Hay described the operation as "polished" and said the men responsible knew what they were doing, and could probably install the device quickly. It was possible that similar devices existed elsewhere in Brisbane. Inspector Hay also advised the public of another scam in which criminals used "slight of hand" techniques to obtain credit card and ATM card details."Offenders approach potential ATM users and confuse the person by talking, waving their arms about, pointing to the ATM screen and partially blocking the view of the person," he said."The offender secretly removes the card from the ATM and hands it to a nearby accomplice who scans the card on a hand held skimming device."The card is then secretly returned to the ATM where the customer is encouraged to re-enter their PIN while being watched by the criminals."With the card details and PIN, the criminals are able to "clone" a card and use it for fraudulent transactions internationally.