Police warn Bo’ness community about card fraud
16 February
A police demonstration on card fraud and ATM skimming devices was well-received by the community of Bo’ness.
Officers showed locals how skimming devices work and ways to keep their bank details safe at the event in Tesco on Wednesday, February 15.
A mock auto-teller was put on display to alert the public to the dangers of the modern criminal.
Officers working with members of community safety groups also handed out leaflets and showed members of the public a card skimming device and a micro-camera and how they could be fitted to the auto teller to commit fraud.
Police have highlighted some main points to prevent people from becoming a victim to card crime. These are as follows:
- Remember that all cash machines are well made and all components are firmly fixed and do not move especially around the slot for your card. If it moves unusually be careful.
- If a skimmer has been fitted, look for things like the card slot standing too prominently on the machine and similar in colour to the rest of the machine.
- If you see a metal roller or ball bearing in the card slot, this is not normal and a skimmer may be fitted.
- If your card does not go into the machine smoothly, the skimmer slot and the machine slot may not be lined up properly which should raise suspicions.
- If you think a skimmer has been fitted try and move it. Nothing should move but if a device is fitted with double sided sticky tape it will move slightly.
- Always cover the keypad from above as well as the side when typing your PIN number. A micro-camera may be fitted directly above the keypad filming vertically down.
- If you see or are suspicious of any or all of the above, phone the police right away and stay with the machine or get a security guard from the store to stay with the machine until police arrive.
- This input was received so well efforts will be made to provide this demonstration again in the near future with a more local focus on individual stores for a longer period.
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