Cash Machine Security

Although not strictly technology news, Genesis would like to raise customer awareness of a sharp increase in cashpoint fraud in the UK after reports of a number of clients being affected.

Cash machine fraud has soared by 85 per cent to £61m during the past year, according to figures released today. The main reason for the increase was the rise in use of skimming devices which copy card details, and miniature camera devices which record cardholders' PINs when using automated cashmachines.

This is what a normal cashpoint looks like. Normally, you'd push your card directly 'into the wall' through a slot. There's nothing else between you and the cash machine. Ensure the walls around the machine are clear and that you are not being watched while entering your PIN.

This is a cashpoint with a cloning unit attached. The device is cleverly constructed and sprayed the same colour as the machine to which it is fixed. Usually there is a minature camera recording your PIN number, or someone loitering nearby trying to watch you enter your details.

There are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud:

• be wary if you see an 'out of order' notice on a cashpoint directing you to another machine
• report any machines that appear to have a card stuck in the slot
• if you see anyone loitering around a cashpoint, go elsewhere
• when entering your PIN number, cover your hand so the details entered cannot be seen
• try and use the cash machines inside the bank

If you become aware that a device has been fitted to a cash machine, please contact the police immediately. Other customers should be discouraged from using the machine until the arrival of the police. These devices tend to be fitted to machines that are away from banking premises, such as the underground, outside supermarkets, petrol stations etc; this way the scam is unlikely to be discovered by banking staff. They are also in place for short periods of time, evenings, nights and at weekends.

Last Updated: Thursday April 17, 2008