Holders of debit cards from various banks in the island are being urged to practise extra security measures when using automated teller machines, as criminals have devised new means through which to capture and steal account information.

The new developments, which include the installation of various pieces of equipment which are able to clone the user's card, and copy all the required information, are forcing local banks to come up with strong measures to combat these practices. A number of the banks using the popular multi-link network have been affected.

Belinda Williams, public relations and corporate affairs manager at the National Commercial Bank, said the bank is aware of the new fraud. In an email, she told THE STAR, "The method currently being used is the tampering of ABMs belonging to the various members of the Multi-link Network with the use of devices which covertly capture the customer's ABM card information (known as skimming), and the captured information is then used to create a replica of the customer's card (cloning) and ultimately used to withdraw funds from the customer's account."

protect your PIN

In relation to this disturbing trend, she said the bank has since launched an education campaign, dubbed 'Protect Your Pin', to inform customers of the importance of keeping their personal identification number (PIN) safe. She said this was very important as fraudsters cannot access a customer's account without the PIN.

Fraudsters usually install a surveillance camera inside the machines with the aim of capturing a customer's PIN as he or she enters it. In order to combat this, bank officials are advising customers to shield their PIN at all times, including when using a debit card at a point of sale location.

RBTT has also responded to the new threat. Michael Gordon, regional security coordinator of protective services at the bank, while not revealing specific security measures, said the bank has been working closely with the police to handle suspected cases of tampering.

Both banks have issued guidelines to help customers stay safe and protected, while investigations are being carried out. The guidelines include firstly, protecting PINs, observing the surroundings and inspecting ATMs for obvious extraneous attachments, shielding keypads when entering pins, periodically checking accounts to ensure that the transactions processed to their accounts are valid.

cautions

Customers are also being urged to keep all ATM receipts, refrain from giving their cards to strangers or soliciting help from strangers at the machines and to contact their bank immediately if their card is seized by the ATM.

Gordon said that while the bank was doing its part to secure its systems, customers are also to do theirs.

Williams said the National Commercial Bank is at present trying to find a long-term solution to the problem, by sourcing and acquiring anti-fraud solutions to be implemented throughout its ATM network. She also said, "NCB has been consistently monitoring our network and working with legal authorities as well as customers in instances where cards have been fraudulently compromised by skimming and cloning activities. Investigations are conducted with a view to ensuring that our customers are satisfied and account balance/status restored."

The Fraud Squad is aware of this latest scam and just recently, two women were arrested and taken before the court after they were allegedly held attempting to install a camera and other devices in an ATM. That matter is still before the court.

Attempts to speak with a representative from the Bank of Nova Scotia were unsuccessful.