Card Skimming,??.

Hi Axle; it pays to be paranoid about card security.

He would need to remember you card number and pin, unless a skimming device was fitted, then he need not watch you at all - just collect all the details later. A few years ago my boss went to Rome. His EFTPOS card was skimmed, and within a few hours numerous transactions has cleaned out his entire bank account - luckily bro-in-law who was travelling with them was able to fund the rest of the trip until the bank reinstated the funds. His daughter back home who was managing his mail and banking had access to the account and noticed the debits so it was reported quickly. His bank was astonished at the speed as they said it usually takes about a day to print the bogus card - this was much quicker.

Motherhen

Read your credit card conditions. It is your responsibility to protect and safeguard your pin. If you let someone watch you enter it, your at fault.
Cover the keypad!!!!
I'm amazed how many people make no attempt to prevent anyone from watching their pin being entered.

We have a local servo here that appears to have a few more than normal customers get scammed. Don't go near them because of fuel inaccurate measurements.
The cook and I were discussing card scamming today and were seriously considering going back to using cash more and only use the cards at the banks.

The thing I can't work out is with all this card scimming etc, they have decided it is a good idea to make a machine that does not need your pin, and I don't even have a say. At Mc Donalds, super markets, servos, shops. I was in a servo the other day and I heard the guy behind the counter explaining the new system to a customer. He said it is awesome cause now you don't even need to take your card out of your wallet. Just wave it past the machine and he has all your info. I asked how this is good and he said it is faster and easier. Yeah right, easier to steal your money. ACA did a story on it and they had a guy from the fraud squad with a machine in a breifcase walking through a shopping centre getting peoples card info just by walking past them.
I agree, going back to cash is not a bad idea.
The problem is this industry is worth billions to them and the penalties aren't enought to stop it. They come into the country, steal our money and are gone the same day

Josh

I have been offered the just pass your card past the machine and I refused..they have for me still had the swipe your card and enter pin in place..so it may pay to request that if you have the same concerns as me...I also always pick up the card machine if I can to hide pin entry...I am noticing that in some servos they are conected to the counter so you cant do this...so just put your hand there to block it...I dont care what they think and they shouldnt have a problem with it unless they have something else in mind....there is a scam happening at the moment when they ask you if you want cash out...if you dont and you dont want your reciept then they cash out for them selves with an average amount and you normally wont remember whether you did it or not when you get your account details....i always ask for the reciept now from anywhere and check it and then throw it away if I want

I agree, Motherhen. That's the new thing in supermarkets, but at Bunnings I think you don't have to sign or give PIN for a purchase under $100. Lose your card and imagine how many $98 purchases a determined scrote could make in a few hours! Equally, you could make lots of $34 purchases at Coles/Woolies in a day. Am seriously thinking about going back to good old cash.
Cheers, Tony

haven't come across that yet (no sign no pin )..but hasn't that just undermined the reasons for having cards ...no need to carry large cash...security provisions with your card from the banks ....do the banks agree with this ??? ..I will go to bunnings and try this just to see if they will still offer you the old methods...maybe it is a way to make you worry about it and force you inyo spending more money to feel more secure ..lol

Axle,
the bank rang us a couple of months ago and said our card had been cancelled and we confirmed $10600 had been ripped off it from someone in Great Brittan.

The card had been hit every couple of minutes on line and most of of the purchases were for top end Hifi gear.

The people's reaction at the bank was yes it happens all the time.

Our cards have never left our hands and we always cover the pin number. It may have been stolen in a online transaction or from a skimmer.

Have a good one,
RA.

A friend works for one of the big 4 banks in the security department for credit cards. His advice is to set your card for signiture only and never use a PIN.

He said that if you use a PIN, you sign up for the responsibility to keep it secret and in the event of a dispute, the onus of proof is on you. However if you use a signiture then the onus of proof is on the bank to show that it was you that signed for the goods and if they can't then you are not responsible.

Good advice me thinks.

axle . when travelling we use a "once off " credit card which woolworths sells, it can be loaded up to $1000 and you can have as many as you want. once the $1000 is used throw it away and get another , at least if you get scammed you will only lose what's left on the card (rememebering max. is $1000).
regards quincy

It is your responsibility if they see your pin number and steal your card but if they see you pin number and your card gets skimmed then it the banks responsibility.

At the end f the day it still the banks responsibility to ensure they provide a secure service for transactions.

One thing to remember the credit card skimmers are a lot smarter then you or me and it's just a matter of time before it happens..... try to prevent it as much as you like but the skimmers are always two steeps in front.

The next big thing to worry about is the new non swipe cards for low cost transactions that are being introduced.... all you have to be is close to the card requiring no interaction with the card holder to complete the transaction.

Smart phones are becoming another concern for fraudulent activities.

The number of people trying to get public and private information regarding our business is increasing very fast with up to 10% of all calls we receive are from people gathering data.... some using very smart tactics and others not.

The day and age of computers is making every one vulnerable to attacks.... stuff you might of placed in a forum 6 years ago is still available today and think of how many people give out personal details about then selves over a period of time.

One EO member of here about 12 months ago had in his profile his life story including in depth information about his previous and current marriages, children, employers including names and job descriptions, where he has lived and his new residence and a whole lot more..... I sent him a PM informing him of the information and he did remove some stuff but there was still enough information there to use against him.

Thank god for cash. My wife gets paid cash. Her work agreement many years ago stipulated this and they have not renewed the agreement. Same company same staff.

I have never used a pin number with my one and only card. I either use cash or sign every time. Yes; you can say they then have a copy of my signature. But lets face it crooks are lazy. They haven't the time to practice my signature to try and see if they can forge it.

I also make a big point out of staff who check my signature and also make sure those around hear it as well. Those that don't check the signature get a blast.

But lets face it 99% of those behind the counter wouldn't know how to check it anyway. But it's nice to see their face light up when you thank them for "doing the right thing".

So far not one problem.

Phil

Be very careful if the attendant does the entry askes if you want cash out -you say no- and then hands the terminal to you for your pin. IF it does not work the first time do not enter your pin a second time but ask that they cancell the transaction and do it again
REASON is if you say no to cash out they still process a cash out and when you enter what you think is your pin your entering a cash out amount, thats why your pin did not work the first time, when you re-enter your pin it works - you have not only handed over your pin no. (it shows as the cash out amount on the receipt) but you have provided a cash bonus from the till, nice if your pin starts with 9 - nearly $100 bonus, for the little a r sole that just served you they have all they need especially if they check the back of your card for the security code
Happened at drive through bottle shop with portable unit luckly bank were on to it got the funds re-payed
Get the docket and check it
Cheers Kev

2 years ago I discovered that I could not use my credit card and on ringing the bank discovered it had been cancelled by them. They picked up a fraudulent transaction and their system, immediately froze my card which I think is amazing, No money was taken from my card and the bank was prompt in their action. What I really liked was that they didn't e-mail me and only left me a message on my phone to call them.

I am very security conscious and when I called the bank I wanted to know how someone had got access to my card details. Quite simply, they used a random generator to produce card number details and when my card number came up they tried to scam it from there. Because they didn't know who I was the scam fell over instantly.

Here is what I do to try and avoid being scammed.

CC requires both a signature and a pin (ask your bank for this service)

CC never has more than $300 available - if I need more I transfer from my savings account

All my ATM transactions are via my debit /savings account card and I cover the keypad when transacting.

If I want to withdraw money I normally use the supermarket cash out system. Who's going to be able to attach a skimmer to one of those? By doing this I also avoid that $2 rip off transaction fee. In fact I strongly suggest that everyone does this to put those money grubbing banking bastards in their place. Boycott their rip off machines!!!