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[albitz]

it happened to me in a petrol station (becoming quite common apparently)they have a little camera in the ceiling to watch you enter the pin no. and a machine nearby to do the rest

[FRE07962128]

How does that happen? doesn't someone need to get hold of your card?

No unfortunately not.  Your card and PIN can be scanned with a Lebonese loop at any ATM, or simply your details can be gleaned by computer hackers monitoring your internet purchases.  Then of course there can be the dishonest retail staff who can scan your details when buying petrol, cigarettes, etc.
 

What is that?

A type of Palestinian contraceptive!

Haha ha

No seriously it is a tiny device, in the form of a loop of wire in a tiny housing that the criminal places in the card slot on a ATM, that is not obvious to immediate attention,  to read the information from the card.  A pin hole camera may also be used in tandem to 'capture' your PIN as it is being entered.

It is also well known for these criminals to use complete false ATM front, clipped onto the genuine one underneath, to do all as previously described.

[amigov6]

Sympathies. I paid off & cancelled my cc 6 years ago (Capital 1 visa) Only have my switchcard now despite all the offers of another one.
  If anyone cloned my switchcard i hope they're doing that well they take pity on me & pay some in!!!

[TheBoy]

Sympathies. I paid off & cancelled my cc 6 years ago (Capital 1 visa) Only have my switchcard now despite all the offers of another one.
  If anyone cloned my switchcard i hope they're doing that well they take pity on me & pay some in!!!

I don't mind having credit cards, as I am organised to pay them on time, and never buy what I can't afford, so never get tempted to overspend on it.  I tend not to use my normal switch card, as less protection (though remain unconvinced how much you actually get with a CC anyway)

[amigov6]

If you can pay them off in full every month no probs, but as you know many people take them out when they're skint which is a slippery slope. I'm not disciplined enough to do that myself so i leave well alone. My other train of thought is:- If you can afford to pay in full each month what's the advantage in the first place? 8-)

[Big Fra]

How does that happen? doesn't someone need to get hold of your card?

No unfortunately not.  Your card and PIN can be scanned with a Lebonese loop at any ATM, or simply your details can be gleaned by computer hackers monitoring your internet purchases.  Then of course there can be the dishonest retail staff who can scan your details when buying petrol, cigarettes, etc.
 

Absolutely correct. Very easy to get all the details you can see on card via a quick skim.  PIN slightly more difficult.

What made me notice this was the fact I rarely use it (so I will see transactions easily), and it was charged in euros.  I was in Belgium at the time of the 2nd transaction, but not the first, and didn't use this card anyway.  I wonder if its some scammer using it in small amounts in hope it goes undetected for a while?

All you need to do is when you get a hold of one person;

full name
location
contact details (email ext etc)

Tell the you will hold them personally responsible for any unauthorised actions on your account. If they are not happy with that, get the manager, but always be prepared to have a complaint letter at hand to send off.

Physical correspondance cannot be denied with.

Daily phone calls are a must, especially with your now 'special' contact.

[MikeDundee]

Well never had a CC cloned, but last year had my main maestro account card cloned, and attempted £400 withdrawals over 2 transactions. It was the Bank that called me, whilst trying to pay for a parking ticket at the machine, would'nt go through, my bank had already blocked the card, and minutes after phoned me, and told me what was going on, got new card. They had tried to withdraw money in Thailand ...thing is I never use my main ATM card in Thailand as i have a seperate Thai bank account .....can't fault First Direct

[Taxi_Driver]

If you can pay them off in full every month no probs, but as you know many people take them out when they're skint which is a slippery slope. I'm not disciplined enough to do that myself so i leave well alone. My other train of thought is:- If you can afford to pay in full each month what's the advantage in the first place? 8-)

In case of emergencies?
You may need to be able to pay for something immediately and may not have enough in your current account.......altho you may do in building society or savings accounts......but carnt access those funds at the time  

[Taxi_Driver]

Sympathies. I paid off & cancelled my cc 6 years ago (Capital 1 visa) Only have my switchcard now despite all the offers of another one.
  If anyone cloned my switchcard i hope they're doing that well they take pity on me & pay some in!!!

I don't mind having credit cards, as I am organised to pay them on time, and never buy what I can't afford, so never get tempted to overspend on it.  I tend not to use my normal switch card, as less protection (though remain unconvinced how much you actually get with a CC anyway)

Im not  

Altho I do have a DD setup to pay the min amount so I dont incur penalty charges  

However i dont usually use it as i prefer to pay cash  

[TheBoy]

How does that happen? doesn't someone need to get hold of your card?

No unfortunately not.  Your card and PIN can be scanned with a Lebonese loop at any ATM, or simply your details can be gleaned by computer hackers monitoring your internet purchases.  Then of course there can be the dishonest retail staff who can scan your details when buying petrol, cigarettes, etc.
 

Absolutely correct. Very easy to get all the details you can see on card via a quick skim.  PIN slightly more difficult.

What made me notice this was the fact I rarely use it (so I will see transactions easily), and it was charged in euros.  I was in Belgium at the time of the 2nd transaction, but not the first, and didn't use this card anyway.  I wonder if its some scammer using it in small amounts in hope it goes undetected for a while?

All you need to do is when you get a hold of one person;

full name
location
contact details (email ext etc)

Tell the you will hold them personally responsible for any unauthorised actions on your account. If they are not happy with that, get the manager, but always be prepared to have a complaint letter at hand to send off.

Physical correspondance cannot be denied with.

Daily phone calls are a must, especially with your now 'special' contact.

Unfortunately, just being a call centre lacky, cannot get back in touch with him.  Don't want to either. As much use as a used, split johnny smeared in dogshit  

[TheBoy]

If you can pay them off in full every month no probs, but as you know many people take them out when they're skint which is a slippery slope. I'm not disciplined enough to do that myself so i leave well alone. My other train of thought is:- If you can afford to pay in full each month what's the advantage in the first place? 8-)

Having an offset mortgage, the more I keep in certain accounts for longer, the more I save

[Jay w]

I had my debit card cloned this time last year, two transactions of £250 in quick sucession in London gave it away to the bank as i had just withdrawn £20 from a ATM in nottingham.

Petrol station was where the info was obtained, guy dropped my card whilst doing the swipe, this allowed him to scan it through a scanner he had in a bag by his feet.
Lloyds told me that he didn't need my PIN!! he could create my own, initially they were a bit hesitant about giving me the money back, after a week i got it back  

Police caughts the oiks who were doing it and i had a word with the petrol station manager about the staff they had there suffice to say they caught the person who was doing the scanning  

Not a nice experience though

[macca]

to deserve this week.

Now my card looks like its been cloned  

 

I found my card had been cloned a couple of weeks ago
As soon as I noticed the unauthorised transactions I informed the bank. They took all the details and said they will investigate and it should be no more than 10 days before It gets sorted. :-?
6 days later the money had been refunded to my account and a new card had been issued....pretty impressed with them TBH.

[FRE07962128]

How does that happen? doesn't someone need to get hold of your card?

No unfortunately not.  Your card and PIN can be scanned with a Lebonese loop at any ATM, or simply your details can be gleaned by computer hackers monitoring your internet purchases.  Then of course there can be the dishonest retail staff who can scan your details when buying petrol, cigarettes, etc.
 

What is that?

A type of Palestinian contraceptive!

Haha ha

No seriously it is a tiny device, in the form of a loop of wire in a tiny housing that the criminal places in the card slot on a ATM, that is not obvious to immediate attention,  to read the information from the card.  A pin hole camera may also be used in tandem to 'capture' your PIN as it is being entered.

It is also well known for these criminals to use complete false ATM front, clipped onto the genuine one underneath, to do all as previously described.

Because of all that I know, the advice of security experts (police etc), and the experiences of others as highlighted on this site, I

1/ do not use any cards in filling stations always using cash instead

2/ withdraw money on my cards from within the major banks premisies

3/ but if that isn't possible use a ATM outside a major bank or major supermarket, thoroughly checking the ATM's front, card slot and upper surfaces for tampering / false front / devices / cameras.

4/ Only use my credit cards in large reputable stores if I absolutely have to, but try always to use cash instead that I have withdrawn as above.

5/  Never use my cards in corner shops, filling stations / garages / issolated ATM's (outside MacDonald's,filling stations, etc)

6/  Only use my cards on the  Internet with major suppliers; ie. HMV, DVD.com, Sainsbury's, etc.

Although all this does not completely protect me from the risk of scanning / cloning, it does greatly reduce the opportunities for criminals to catch me out.