I can't believe this has started happening in Dubai! It's quite regular in the UK now, so you guys in Dubai should startkeeping your eyes peeled for anything strange-looking on ATM's
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CASHPOINT SCAM
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Published on: Tuesday, 30th May, 2006 | Permanent Link | no responses
Hundreds of people could have had their financial details stolen after crooks hacked into an ATM machine. The fraudsters used a device known as a ‘skimmer’ to read the magnetic information on people’s cards as they used an ATM in Umm Suqeem.
The device also filmed them typing in their PIN numbers. The fraud meant that everyone who used the ATM between May 16 and 24, when the device was discovered, has had to be issued with new bank cards.
Emirates Bank, which owns the ATM in question, last night refused to say how many customers had been affected and how much – if any – money has been stolen. Although banks say they did their best to inform customers their cards had been cancelled for security reasons, 7DAYS received several complaints from people who only found out when they tried to use their cards.
“Every time I tried to withdraw money my card was declined,” said Jennie Brown. “No one called me from the bank to tell me and when I called ME Bank they said they were still getting around to calling customers,” she said.
A skimmer is a tiny device that fits over the card slot on an ATM, reading the card’s number as it is inserted. It also contains a small camera to film the PIN number. Banks said last night they are inspecting all ATM machines and are taking ‘precautionary measures’ to try to prevent a similar incident in future.
Police are also understood to be investigating.