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My mother in law was at he cashpoint on Lordship lane today.

She was feeling unnerved by a guy who was standing close to her at cashpoint. He soon disappeared. Whilst her bank card and PIN number was in machine, another man came up and shoved a piece of paper to obscure buttons. He pressed something (assuming it was 'cancel') and the card was ejected. He attempted to snatch the card.

MIL has heard of this being used before so was vigilant and not 'confused' by paper distraction. She gave him an elbow and retrieved the card before he did.

If no one has heard of this technique before then they may be stunned by paper and too slow to react to card being taken.


Be vigilant!

A similar, although apparently more slickly undertaken, incident happened to a woman at the HSBC branch on Lordship Lane about a year ago. She was distracted while someone who'd been watching took her card, having noted her PIN. The card and PIN were then used a couple of minutes at the Post Office cash machine about 30 metres away almost before she realised what had happened and before the police arrived. It all happened so quickly that the person thought at first the machine had swallowed her card.


It's important to always conceal the inputting of your PIN as much as possible and to be vigilant for any people around watching or behaving suspiciously. People also need to keep a look out for any criminally installed card reader gadgets on cash machines they are using and report anything even slightly suspicious looking.

UPDATE:

My husband was on the Lane and spotted the men fitting MILs description and one more (3 in total). He stood and watched them for a bit and saw them eyeing up a woman by cashpoint. They spotted husband, alerted one another and went to cafe. He called 999 and within minutes, they arrived and searched men.

Husband still there, awaiting outcome now.

What an eventful Saturday.

He only went to grab us some lunch. I'm starving!

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