Look out for ‘skimmer devices’ and surfers of PIN numbers

OFFICERS of the Fraud Squad department yesterday appealed to members of the public to be on the lookout for “skimmer devices” which may be placed at various Automated Teller Machines (ATM) across the country. They are also asking members of the public to be aware of suspicious-looking people at these machines, where schemers of this new type of fraud hang out ready to pounce on unsuspecting victims. The Fraud Squad gave the warning following the arrest of four Venezuelan nationals, among them three women, charged with taking a bank card from Norwegian national Oddbjorg Strommen on September 6 at the Royal Bank branch in Crown Point, and a man charged with possession of card making equipment. 

They were all charged under the Electronic Transfer of Funds Act and charges were laid by WPC Alicia Piggott of the Crown Point Police Station.
“The skimmer device is a frightening thing,” Dave Williams, Royal Bank’s Corporate Manager Security Operations told Newsday yesterday.
Williams added that the “skimmer device” is a new type of fraud to hit this country, but said it is prevalent in Latin America and Miami.
“It’s a challenge for the Fraud Squad but I am satisfied with the competence of the investigators there,” Williams said.  He explained that the “skimmer device” can capture electronic data from one’s credit and debit card. Williams said the data can then be transferred to any kind of plastic device to perpetrate fraud.  The catch, he said, is that the perpetrators of the “skimmer device” fraud will not be able to get the customers’ PIN.
Williams said the “skimmer device” fraudsters will then try to “clandestinely obtain” a customer’s PIN through another major fraud indentified as the “Lebanese Loop.”

This type of fraud occurs when the fraudster uses a device in the card readers’ lot.  The customer then loses their card after which the perpetrator, on the pretext of offering assistance, stays around and asks customers to re-enter their PIN, which is their sole motive. Now that they have been able to get the customers PIN, the fraudsters will be able to use the counterfeit “skimmer device” card together with the PIN to obtain large sums of cash from people’s accounts. Williams subsequently advised members of the public to be very wary of people who shoulder-surf, which he said is done to obtain people’s PIN.