Cautionary Tale - Card Skimming in Sydney - NSW police's Strike Force Bournemouth

How the hell does this allow to even happen ... Once your identity has been stolen, there is no telling how many other criminals will get their hands on your information. Skimming means more than just cutting fat off steak; it’s also when a thief obtains data from that magnetic strip on the back of your credit card (or debit or ATM card). The thief records and copies this data with a counterfeit card reader onto a blank card’s strip, and then makes purchases or cash withdrawals with this fraudulent card—in the account holder’s name. Skimming takes place at ATMs, taxis, gas stations, restaurants, retail stores ..Cautionary Tales

Police investigating a card skimming gang targeting automatic teller machines (ATMs) in Sydney and are seeking assistance from the public. 

‘Card skimming’ is the illegal copying of information from the magnetic strip of a credit or ATM card. It is a more direct version of a phishing scam.

The scammers try to steal your details so they can access your accounts. Once scammers have skimmed your card, they can create a fake or ‘cloned’ card with your details on it. The scammer is then able to run up charges on your account.

Card skimming is also a way for scammers to steal your identity (your personal details) and use it to commit identity fraud. By stealing your personal details and account numbers the scammer may be able to borrow money or take out loans in your name. ACCC on Card Skimming in Sydney ; In UK Police hunt Romanian ATM thieves

In the US The FTC announced its top 10 consumer complaints for 2013 today. Of the more than 2 million consumer complaints received…

• Identity theft leads the field, with 14 percent of total complaints filed. Thirty percent of those were tax- or wage-related, which continues to be the largest category within identity theft complaints.

In October 2013, KrebsOnSecurity published an exclusive story detailing how a Vietnamese man running an online identity theft service bought personal and financial records on Americans directly from a company owned by Experian, one of the three major U.S. credit bureaus. Today’s story looks deeper at the damage wrought in this colossal misstep by one of the nation’s largest data brokers.

Even Experts get fooled

NSW Police might be able to obtain images of ATM card skimmers who are defrauding bank customers across Sydney.

It appears that the devices copy bank card details, while a tiny video camera records the victim entering their personal identification number.

During February 2014, card-skimmers installed sophisticated devices on to ATMs in the Sydney metropolitan area. Allegedly on 19 February this device took details of CBD customers who used NAB's ATM on the corner of Castlereagh St and Liverpool St.

The group seems to use the latest in miniature skimming technology, meaning suspect devices are particularly difficult to detect.

Citizens who might have seen potential gang members using ATMs before business or after business hours around Liverpool - and specifically there was unauthorised transaction detected at CBA's ATM located at POLDING ST Wetherill Park, NSW, 2164 around 7:30 AM on Friday 14 March 2014 should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. An increase in card skimming activities led to the establishing of NSW police's Strike Force Bournemouth in June 2013. Strike Force detectives work with banks to detect the skimmers and any unauthorised transactions on accounts.

These two men were unable to stay ahead of the law. Even the smartest criminal makes a mistake now and then. Real and virtual world seems to be peppered with crooks ... Two men charged over alleged attempted ATM break-in - CBD Friday, 14 March 2014 09:31:22 AM