ATM skimming. What the heck!! Not my day.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #1 14-01-2010, 05:21 PM

Hey all.

Just my rant....

Got up this morning, dashed to work in the car and used the last of my fuel to get there. Went to take out some cash at work.... declined... What tha?

There has to be atleast $3000 in there after being paid this morning.

Went up stairs to the office to ask if the pays have been held up... Nope they were paid.

Called the bank... Yep the money went in, then went straight out...
They removed some how $2908.03. Why that exact amount?? Why not the whole lot?

Well I guess I got skimmed, ^%$#@^%@#$!!!

No money, rent to pay tomorrow, no fuel in the car.... I live as a lot do these days, pay check to pay check. Isn't life grand!!?

I would normally have another $2500 in there, yet paid rego,insurance and tyres the previous week. So I used my savings for that... Worst time for it.

I set up net banking this arvo, so tonight at 12am I get to find out, where in the world my money went to.

I do not ever use this key card for online transactions, so I could have only got skimmed... Weird thing is I can remember all the places, I used the card and am always suspicious of weird lookng card readers etc.

Tomorrow the bank said they would start investigating, but need to wait until they to find out the details.

I have heard that if it is considered fraudulent and I did not take out the money, then they will remburse me almost straight away. I just hope it is an over-seas fraud attempt, not something local. As I can see if it is a local withdrawel then, how do I prove it wasn't me just taking the money out...

I'm a tad worried...

Anyway thanks for listening!
Anyone else been through this?

TrevorW · #2 14-01-2010, 05:24 PM

Set up another saving a/c seperate too your card

to bill pay from this

transfer only what you think you may need eacvh week into the card a/c

that way the most they

would get if your card is skimmed would be $200

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #3 14-01-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Set up another saving a/c seperate too your card

to bill pay from this

transfer only what you think you may need eacvh week into the card a/c

that way the most they

would get if your card is skimmed would be $200

In hinesight, that does not sound like a bad idea. I only very rarely use an atm to withdraw cash, only 1 ATM visited on my transactions in the last month. I bought things at a few shops. I normally get my cash at our registers in store.
I generally try and keep away from ATM's.

leon · #4 14-01-2010, 05:30 PM

Yep you will get it back, it is the banks responsibility, we got done for nearly $10.000.00 some time ago the funds were used for some betting agency overseas.

We got the whole amount back.

Leon

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #5 14-01-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

Yep you will get it back, it is the banks responsibility, we got done for nearly $10.000.00 some time ago the funds were used for some betting agency overseas.

We got the whole amount back.

Leon

That's good to hear!
Was it a lengthy proceedure to get the money back? Days, weeks, months??

sheeny (Al) · #6 14-01-2010, 06:50 PM

Like Leon, I got done by an overseas gambling operation for about $1000.

I contacted the european money transfer company that showed up on my account, and they refunded me the money but I did lose out on exchange rate variations in the meantime to the tune of $100 roughly.

If that hadn't have worked my credit union would've been on their tail.

Al.

Shep · #7 14-01-2010, 06:57 PM

Just keep calm till you know more details. I got all fired up about something similar although not worth as much and my case turned out to be operator error at the bank, an employee was processing manual eftpos or credit card stuff (you know from those click clack machines) and she just punched in one wrong number. Once they figured it out it was only a couple of days for them to reimburse me.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #8 14-01-2010, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shep

Just keep calm till you know more details. I got all fired up about something similar although not worth as much and my case turned out to be operator error at the bank, an employee was processing manual eftpos or credit card stuff (you know from those click clack machines) and she just punched in one wrong number. Once they figured it out it was only a couple of days for them to reimburse me.

Thanks. I am calm though. Just bugs me the bank will need to reimbuse me because some scum sucker ripped us both of.

mozzie (Peter) · #9 14-01-2010, 07:34 PM

yep !!!!! scum bags they dont work

i want it: i need it: i dont work: i'll steal it

Barrykgerdes · #10 14-01-2010, 07:46 PM

I had $15000 (roughly) put on my credit card by someone buying airline tickets in Malaysia. The bank got involved the same day when the perpertrators tried to exceed the credit limit and cancelled the card immediately. They gave me a new card and I went to the bank to see what it was all about. In two days the debt was cancelled. Next they repaid the money into my credit card twice. I fed all the data into my computer but I could not work out how they figured this out. I suddenly had a Credit card balance of +$30000. Boo! hoo! When I tried to get at it I could not withdraw or transfer it. It took about 2 months to finally get sorted out but in the mean time I got 50000 award points (about $200 worth). When it was all sorted out I lost about $40 in the credit card a/c but gained the award points worth $200. The inconvenience was minimal.

Barry

Matt Wastell (Matt) · #11 14-01-2010, 08:57 PM

It will all work out.
Banks are very aware of 'skimming'. I had a phone call from my bank recently stating an ATM I recently used had been tampered with and data collected. They immediately called and reduced my withdrawal limit to $200 until I changed my PIN.
I was impressed - albeit they are protecting a potential loss.
It is a terrible problem and QLD is a current hot spot.

Always look around when using ATM's and cover the pad when you enter your PIN.

toc (Tim) · #12 14-01-2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Wastell

It will all work out.
Banks are very aware of 'skimming'. I had a phone call from my bank recently stating an ATM I recently used had been tampered with and data collected. They immediately called and reduced my withdrawal limit to $200 until I changed my PIN.
I was impressed - albeit they are protecting a potential loss.
It is a terrible problem and QLD is a current hot spot.

Always look around when using ATM's and cover the pad when you enter your PIN.

scary stuff

This morning I stupidly gave my debit card details over the phone to someone ringing up from my daughters piano school, wanting me to settle an outstanding bill that slipped my mind.

I didnt think about it at the time, but how easy would it be for someone to have been stealing my mail and 'pretend' to be from the school? God I am

Matt Wastell (Matt) · #13 14-01-2010, 09:18 PM

Hey Tim - I am sure it will be OK.
Here in Paddington we had lots of mail stolen for that exact reason - someone stealing your 'credit identity'. The good news is they need lots of details and some luck with passwords and the like!

norm · #14 14-01-2010, 09:31 PM

Its a huge problem and some of the syndicates of late have come from Romania. My sister got done at Comm Bank in Concord to the tune of 3k.
Luckily 5 others got hit as well and she'll get money back in due course.

Tips:

1. set a limit of maximum funds that can be drawn Eg, $300
2. get your money from Supermarkets via eftpos trans.

Lot of the skimming takes place within secs of each other where the banks system won't pick it up immediately, hence sometimes multiple withdrawls show up later on. Also the scammers do it a minute ot two prior to midnight and after to get bang for their bucks...literally.

Lock up the mongrels if they get caught, b@$t#rds!

Norm

acropolite (Phil) · #15 14-01-2010, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchell

I set up net banking this arvo, so tonight at 12am I get to find out, where in the world my money went to

If you're saying that you set up on line net banking, then that would be my prime suspect rather than skimming. You may have some form of trojan undetected on your PC.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #16 14-01-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolite

If you're saying that you set up on line net banking, then that would be my prime suspect rather than skimming. You may have some form of trojan undetected on your PC.

Nope, only set up internet banking this arvo, after the event so I can tell in a few hours at 12am where the funds went. The bank won't find out until tomorrow.

erick (Eric) · #17 14-01-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Wastell

....... cover the pad when you enter your PIN.

Always always always! Beware someone looking over your shoulder or a camera pointed at the keypad.

Have you noticed how many people fail to do this at EFTPOS machines in the shops, let alone at the ATM.

Mind you, if you watch their lips, half them are reciting the number as they go!

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #18 14-01-2010, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

Always always always! Beware someone looking over your shoulder or a camera pointed at the keypad.

Have you noticed how many people fail to do this at EFTPOS machines in the shops, let alone at the ATM.

Mind you, if you watch their lips, half them are reciting the number as they go!

You should see how willingly people through their credit cards details, at me over the phone for deliveries... I could be Joe Blog for all they know. I try and tell them I need to pass them onto the teller, but they just blurt it out to me, which obviously I need to right down to relay the info. It's a good thing I destroy the notes after... people are all too trusting.

I was in New Zealand a couple of years back. I was hiring gear when I happened to notice, when you gave credit card details for your ski hire, they were just throwing all the details into one big box.... Literally 1000's of credit card details in one big box. If I was so inclined, given distractions at the desk, I could have quit easily taken the box.

Vartigy · #19 15-01-2010, 12:59 AM

Couple of security tips with money.

Need cash? Take it out through an eftpos transaction at your local Woolworths or Coles.

Security questions.
Not all institutions allow you to create your own questions. But the method which I will explain here can also be used for those 'set' questions.
We all know that banks and other institutions ask you to select 1-5 "secret/security" questions and provide an answer for them.
Some allow you to create your own as well.

If you get the chance to create your own, I highly recommend doing it.
Avoid the normal questions with blatantly correct answers i.e.:
Where do you live? - Koonarabarin
What is your favorite colour? - Mauve
What is your pets name? - Hogswash
etc

I recommend creating your own questions about something completely unique in your life with an answer that is directly indirect.
For example.
What is your favorite AFL team? - MCG.
Truthfully, your fav team may be Melb Demons, but you don't provide the answer as that. But the question is enough to jolt your mind towards your false positive answer. The MCG, home of the Melb Demons.
Other examples can include:
What is your special/fav number? - Eighteen
Note that most people would provide the numerical answer instead of a literal answer.
Where did I first live? - 3 x 2 or Thompsons or Blue.
3x2 would jolt your memory that your first house was a 3bed 2 bathroom?
Maybe your next door neighbours were the Thompson family.
Or maybe your house was painted bright blue.

A few examples of high security personalised questions include:
First computer game? - pick one that was sentimental, first one you completed?
My amount collected? - instead of having a number, have your answer as the 'type' of collection, a particular comic? card? coasters? matches... whatever.
Create a completely silly riddle that will only make sense to you. Something that will bring a smile to you upon hearing it and you'll be able to answer it easily.

As I said before, this method can also be used in those 'preset' questions.
Mother's maiden name? - does she have a nickname? can use that.
First pet name? - name the breed of animal.

Remember, Indirectly Direct answers.

Internet Banking.

If you don't have anti-virus software, spyware detectors/cleaners or general malware deterrent software installed on your computer.
Find some.
These days it's essential to at least have some basic protection.
Letting your unprotected system take a stroll through the WWW is as harmful as letting an unvaccinated youth swim in a diseased third world sewage laden waterway.

There are the obvious choices for antivirus protection (norton, mcafee etc). But there are some really good bits of antivirus kit out there that is much cheaper, less restrictive on your system, but does a top job at protecting you all the same.
Some names to mention are AVG, Eset Nod32 (aussie owned and run I believe).

If you are unsure at any time about computer safety and security, most ISProviders in Aust have a 24hr support team that is more than willing to answer/assist you with your systems. Afterall, it's in their best interest that your internet experience is conducted safe and hassle free (means more business for them).

Hope that helps.

Jabba (Keenan) · #20 15-01-2010, 08:46 AM

It is a major issue lately for all banks ATMs. This message was notified just this week at Stgeorge.

'Financial Crime Management (FCM) identified a card compromise at a several merchants in Sydney. Some St George Credit and Debit cards are at risk, with numerous customers experiencing fraudulent international transactions on their accounts.'

best step to take in the case it happened to you is to contact your bank insitution as soon as your aware and report any unusual activity on your card so they can put a block on your card.

The faster it is reported, the quicker it can be blocked and contained...