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Exclusive: Surge in card scams


Specialist police fraud busters are investigating an upsurge in credit card fraud in West Norwood.

Dozens of residents have become victims of credit card fraud in the past week, sparking fears cards are being copied in the area.

The investigation team will check if equipment has been installed in cash machines, or if card readers may have been tampered with in shops and supermarkets.

Some residents believe the clone must have taken place with a card reader because they were defrauded despite not using ATMs in the area.

The increase has meant thousands of pounds have been taken from residents’ accounts in the past week.

Withdrawals have occurred a number of times in Benin.

Lambeth Police could not confirm at this point if there had definitely been an increase in fraud in the area, nor could its investigating partner UK payments agency APACS.

A police spokesman warned residents not to panic.

She said: “If you believe you have been a victim of this type of crime then we ask you to thoroughly check your bank statement.”

An APACS spokesman said people should contact their banks straight away and innocent victims would be fully reimbursed.

He said the type of fraud residents of West Norwood suffered was through the magnetic strip on cards being copied.

These are then replicated on another card and used in countries which do not have the same chip and PIN security measures as the UK.

He said typically cards were copied with equipment installed at cash machines but a recent upsurge in fraud at petrol stations and supermarkets had occurred through the installation of bogus equipment.

He said sometimes staff were responsible but also fraudsters posed as bank maintenance staff and installed equipment without shops noticing.

Comments(6)

scoffer says...
9:40am Fri 1 Aug 08

And most of those doing this type of fraud are 'imported' criminals... those 'fleeing perecution' those seeking a 'better life' Mmm... don't get me started on that one! rofl!!

trasie says...
11:57am Fri 1 Aug 08

I noticed last week that a white transit van with 2 men pulled up outside my house and took away 4 bags of rubbish from my neighbours house. They even shook the black bags. I only got a glimpse of one of the men, he was wearing a hi vis jacket jeans and blue long sleeved top. He had mousey coloured hair and about 5'10" to 6' tall. I didn't think much of it at the time but I wish I had taken the no. plate. So it may not be cloning in the usual sense. I had my own rubbish taken the week before during the bin men's stike.

beecee says...
10:31pm Fri 1 Aug 08

I have seen a number of crime programmes on television where cash
machines were tampered with,and on
every occasion those arrested were
from Romania.

Croyboy says...
8:27am Sun 3 Aug 08

"scoffer" wrote: "...most of those doing this type of fraud are 'imported' criminals... those 'fleeing perecution' those seeking a 'better life'"

Yes, the fact that "Withdrawals have occurred a number of times in Benin" gives one a hint, doesn't it? Still, scoffer, we must understand that the imported villains have "rights" (Doesn't everyone...except us?), and can pursue their chosen profession more comfortably in the UK, what with "free" health care, "free" education", "free" accommodation, "free"....

Croyboy says...
9:09am Sun 3 Aug 08

"scoffer" wrote: "...most of those doing this type of fraud are 'imported' criminals... those 'fleeing perecution' those seeking a 'better life'"

Yes, the fact that "Withdrawals have occurred a number of times in Benin" gives one a hint, doesn't it? Still, scoffer, we must understand that the imported villains have "rights" (Doesn't everyone...except us?), and can pursue their chosen profession more comfortably in the UK, what with "free" health care, "free" education", "free" accommodation, "free"....


HolySmoke says...
3:06pm Mon 4 Aug 08

With the Economic downturn looming and with the huge amounts of immigrants now in place, Crime will increase, Labour wont care because as usual they will be leaving the Conservatives with all their usual @RAP to clean up. Mark My Words.
Crime is down, what a load of BS, where´s spin doctor Bliar and his sidekick Broone, I´d like a private word in your ears, idiots.


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