My Switch card's been cloned/copied/swiped

[Mark]

My bank just contacted me to say someone's tried to withdraw money in Egypt in the last few days using my Switch card but because they didn't know my PIN it didn't work. I like to think I'd recognise a cash machine that's been tampered with or I'd notice if someone tried to swipe it (I've watched The Real Hustle you know), but I obviously didn't. Fortunately I do cover my hand when I'm typing in the PIN which is why they didn't get away with it. Sorry, not a very interesting post but I just thought I'd share that with you.

En guard.

[mockney piers]

I once had a 500 quid bar bill put on my credit card at a bulgarian ski resort, my never having been skiing or in bulgaria.

It took 6 months to get it back from the bank the rotters, and I'd never used it in any machine of any sort, which leaves some clever internet scam, or dumb banks. As it only happened once I'm going with the latter.

[QZ]

Poor you. It is v annoying. Hope they sort it out quickly

Some banks seem pretty good at the whole customer profiling thing and therefore contacting you when something doesnt match your spending habits but it's a little bit big bruv isn't it?! ::o

[dulwichmum]

Someone applied for a mortgage and ran up an enormous credit card bill in Holland in our names last year! It completely freaked us out. Apparently as our house was on the market at the time, the police warned us that there was a possibility somebody was viewing houses and picking up old credit cards slips or statements or forms of ID from houses in SE21 at the time. We have bought ourselves a shredder since. Apparently this happened in a number of local homes on the market at the time.

[ruthmct]

Last week NatWest contacted me to say someone was trying to use a card in my name in a machine in Malaysia, unsuccessfully fortunately. Again, it must have been cloning, but I've no idea where it was done.

When I got back from holiday last year I got a similar call - that time I'm pretty sure the culprits used a "malfunctioning" cash machine in a German Autobahn service station.

Ruth

[spymum]

Gosh;this is happening a lot! Someone managed to clone mine and bought ?2000 worth of gold jewellery and electronic goods in Bangalore of all places. I reckon ?2000 must go a pretty long way in Bangalore, so thats a lot of jewellery. I nearly had a heart attack when I found out! Mastercard dealt with it very well though.

spymum

(Blog: Posh Mum)

[Jeremy]

Someone tried to use my Visa in Egypt just the other day too! I hadn't used it in any cash machines for a long time, so that rules out ATM tampering, at least for me. Mark - can you send me a private message with what shops and restaurants you have used recently in the ED area, maybe we can put out heads together?

[Keef]

My sister recently had ?2000 withdrawn / spent in Italy from her account. She got it back after filling in LOTS of forms!

[Mark]

Jeremy, I'll try and get a list to you by PM probably after the weekend. My bank said it's would have been swiped within the last 2 months so I'll have to be a damn good think which may take some time (as I don't usually keep my card receipts).

[Trev]

Hi,

I had almost 600GBP stolen from my account via transactions in Egypt on 27th Feb. Could be that there is some cloning device on one or more of the ATMs in East Dulwich. Just FYI.

Trev.

[snorky]

wont be an ATM - its is likely a rogue shopkeeper - petrol stations are pretty bad for it, due to hight turnover of cards. - they use an altered chip n pin machine to take all the card detail and a copy of your PIN at the same time, then transfer it onto a blank card for use.you process as normal and bcant tell the machine is messed with.card info is sold off witnionga few hours and cloned cards used all over the world.very few of the overseas sale/ shops involved are entirely innocent and usually party to the scam- eg the ?2K in bangalore in all likelyhood.

Certain shops in Peckham Rye lane are used by bottom rung cloners with oddly surprising regularity - coincidence ? they "sell" phantom goods to the cloner, debit the catrd andf give the cloner half the sale in cash.

The banks are not publicising this at the minute,as they marketed the chp n pin as the ultimate deterrant - but crims busted the system within about a month - the lebanese loop used at ATMS is crude by comparison & useed by bottom rung cruims nowadays.

[Jeremy]

Trev - again, if you want to compare notes on local transactions, I'd be happy to. I think it can only really be 4-5 places.

[mockney piers]

Chip and pin is the worst thing that's been done to joe public by the banking industry for a long time. For starters it puts the onus of detecting fraud on the consumer, not the banker, and are you aware that for 40 minutes after using a chip'n'pin the store is legitimately able to take more money from your account. If you disagree you won't have a clue 'til your statement arrives.

That means if you withhold service from, oooh say the Palmerston*, because it's rubbish, they'll take your cash, and once you're out the door they'll add 20% just for good measure, and they'll be within their rights to do this.

Travesty I say.

more details here

http://devilskitchen.me.uk/2006/11/chippin-away-at-fraud.html

*I should point out that although the Palmerston's sins are many, they've never done this.

[DirtyBox]

I had my card cloned last year and they went on a spending spree in Paris, then where did they have their lunch? Pizza Hut! Still makes me chuckle (now I've got the money back)

[snorky]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Trev - again, if you want to compare notes on

> local transactions, I'd be happy to. I think it

> can only really be 4-5 places.

this could be interesting should the same type of business crop up.....................

[Huguenot]

Mockney, I love you dearly, but your junk website isn't accurate - there has been no change in the banking code since before chip'n'pin. The onus has always been on the customer to detect and defend against fraud, and the onus has always been on the banks to assume innocence unless they can prove that fraudulent transactions are the responsibility of the card owner.

It doesn't always work this way as it's not law; by and large the banks review your transaction history to establish motive as a measure of innocence: outrageous but staggeringly effective. It's surprsing how many granny's cards get 'stolen' immediately after chav daughter hits her overdraft limit! There is an ombudsman to defend one's position.

As for this guff about access to details and PINs, nonsense. Retailers retain the right to amend existing orders but have no access to PINs, if they abuse this they go to jail. The same law applies to Direct Debits, which isn't new, and is very useful.

Most users (as per this website) get their cash refunded. I've been victim of 3,600 GBP card fraud in me time, as it's not possible to travel between Norwich and Southend in 3 mins and 27 secs.

You should work harder to establish foundations for your anarchist theories! ;-)

[snorky]

banks have mooted making customers responsible for frauds on their cards, but when realisation came that people may respond by reverting to a cash economy once again, the banks would lose a staggering amount in transaction fees/ interest on cards etc .... and any move by the banks would have to be across the board for all high street banks, otherwise people would just switch to a different bank that doeas offer fraud cover....and then we get into cartels and suchlike should the banks collude to collectively refute all fraud claims.....

[Keef]

Slightly off topic, but has anyone tried claiming back their bank charges? I'm halfway through the process, and will definitely post the results on here, if anyone has been badly stung for charges now is the time to try and claim back, as you can be sure the banks will be working night and day to close the loop holes!

[Huguenot]

No loopholes on this one Keef! Banks are allowed to charge you for expenses but not punishment - the reason they're currently refunding is that they don't want to expose this debate in court.

You shouldn't assume full repayment - just 80% for the last six year's worth. The process should last no longer than 28 days. Give them a 14 day limit on the first letter, and after fourteen days commit to legal action after fourteen more...

[Keef]

Well I hope you're right, as I'm still looking at close to 2k even at 80%! Fingers crossed!

[monica]

Hy there

This has happened to four of my collegues in the last 3 days and there is one common link.After they used their card in a certain place money was withdrawn in eygpt,all but 1 collegue have had their money refunded.After chatting to my collegues it transpired they all used a place where they sell petrol.Hsbc bank have asked all my collegues if they have used a petrol station in ED.

[Mark]

hmmm, I do use the [Removed by the Administrator] petrol station , does anyone else with the Egypt connection use it?

[Trev]

Guys,

I used *fuel supplier's name removed* in ED on 13/02. Saying that I have also used it up and down Lordship Lane over the last month. Oh, and 6 times in Egypt yesterday, although that must have been a boozy enough trip as I have no recollection whatsoever.

So what happens next, do we storm the *fuel supplier's name removed* garage and take the employees as hostage til we get our cash back?

p.s. only joking.

Trev.

[Jeremy]

I've also used the *fuel supplier's name removed* garage by xxxxx xxxxx at least once this month. Will check the statement tonight to find the dates.

[snorky]

Told you...........petrol/ ED/ No names mentioned please

Uncle Snorky knows all.