Clone scam fraudsters target cash machines

Detectives were today working to establish how many ATM machines in the Capital had been compromised by the Eastern European gang.

The gangsters are believed to have been operating for at least a month in the city, attaching new-style "skimming" devices to bank machines.

Customers who used affected machines may have seen their card details read by the device while tiny cameras aimed at the keypad also recorded their secret pin numbers.

Two of the devices, which unlike earlier models can slip inside the card mouthpiece making them almost undetectable, have been recovered from ATMs in Morningside and Granton.

But detectives believe the gang may have been attaching the devices to other machines stretching over central Edinburgh as part of a "concerted attack".

Police forces in Grampian, Tayside and Strathclyde are hunting the gang after they also targeted cash machines in their areas.

At least a dozen people in Edinburgh have reported fraudulent withdrawals from their bank accounts, but officers are expecting a potential flood of other victims coming forward.

Anyone who has used an ATM across the Capital in recent months may have had their card details and pin number stolen, which the gang can then use to create cloned cards to take out cash.

A device was recovered from a Royal Bank of Scotland ATM outside the Morrisons supermarket in Granton on 17 February, while a similar device was found at a branch of Santander in Morningside Road on 29 January.

Detective Constable Mike Harris said it was possible thousands of bank customers could have been affected. He said: "This seems to be part of a concerted attack across central Scotland by what we believe are organised criminals from Eastern Europe. This attack may have been launched now because the organised criminals involved believe bank customers will have money back in their accounts now the Christmas period has passed.

"We're working with the banks to establish exactly where there have been other attacks. We've already seen there might have been activity in areas such as Portobello and the Jewel."

The skimming devices are becoming increasingly advanced but are available on the internet.

The card details stolen can be downloaded on to any card with a magnetic strip, such as phone cards, and are often used by criminals to withdraw cash overseas.

DC Harris added: "These criminals typically target cash machines which have a heavy footfall, such as those beside supermarkets, as they are the most used. They can attach these devices, sometimes only for a short period, and still be able to read a lot of cards in that time.

"Often they don't even need to detach the devices to collect the card details, they can simply download them via Bluetooth and take away the camera for the pin numbers.

Because the devices actually fit inside the card mouthpiece, they are difficult to spot."

Fraud investigators at banks are now searching for signs of fraudulent activity in their customers' accounts.

A Santander spokesman said: "As soon as concerns are raised about any Santander ATM, the machine is taken offline. We would advise anyone who has used an ATM and thinks that their card has been compromised to contact their bank as soon as possible."

CUSTOMERS URGED TO BE ALERT

POLICE today warned bank customers using ATM machines in the Lothians to be on their guard against the card skimming gang.

Officers urged customers to cover the buttons with their hand to prevent any cameras from recording their pin numbers.

The gang is using a new generation of skimming technology which has made the devices more difficult to spot.

A police spokesman said: "It may not be immediately apparent to ATM customers that there is anything suspicious about the machine, so we would urge people to be alert and check for any signs that the machine has been tampered with.

"If there is anything suspicious about the machine, then customers should either alert the branch immediately, or contact police.

"Customers can also take extra measures to protect themselves against fraud, such as covering the keypad with their hand when they enter their pin, and checking their bank accounts regularly to keep track of their funds."