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Absa warns of new ATM fraud
24/08/2004 11:05 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Absa has warned ATM users against a new variation of card skimming at ATMs.
Fraudsters pose as bank employees at ATMs and inform clients that the latest bank procedure to verify clients is for them to swipe their card through a card reader.
The skimming device used by the fraudsters is either attached to the ATM or held by hand.
To date Absa has not recorded any incidents of such fraud, but the bank believes that it is in the interests of its customers to be aware of the latest trends in fraud.
Fraudsters instruct clients to swipe their cards through the device, to verify their Personal Identification Number (PIN) and card details. This takes place before clients place their card in the standard ATM card reader to process the required transaction.
The client's bank card details are then available to the fraudster to defraud them.
Pravesh Mahadeo, General Manager: Absa Group Self Service Channel says clients should "please be aware of such fraudsters". They should not entertain anybody at an ATM with any queries or requests.
"Any discussions with bank staff must be done inside the bank or banking agency," says Mahadeo.
Absa's fight against ATM crime and other forms of banking fraud is an ongoing process.
As part of this a special nationwide campaign called "Take Care" was launched over the festive season in December 2003 - Jan 2004 to encourage customers to make sure that their identities in the form of their PIN and passwords are not compromised.
Mahadeo says, although Absa is committed to help protect its customers, it is critical that customers also take extra care of their personal banking details.
Absa Self Service Channel upgraded ATM software to change the screen flow resulting in fewer receipt jams. As a tactic to commit fraud, miscreants jams ATM printers which results in a changed screenflow seen by the ATM user which causes confusion and vulnerability.
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