CHIP & PIN Fraud Bracknell
Recent incidents show that fraudsters are still actively targeting shoppers across Bracknell, who use either Credit or Debit cards to make payments by way of entering a 4 digit PIN at the point of sale in supermarkets, or whilst withdrawing cash from an ATM at these sites.
Offenders working in small teams are targeting older female supermarket shoppers, taking note of the PIN as the victim taps it into the keypad at the till. They then follow the victim out into the car park where once the handbag and purse have been placed in the car one offender distracts the victim, whilst a second offender opens the car and snatches the purse. On occasions the offenders have then simply gone to an ATM at the same store and withdrawn as much cash as they can from the victims account before fleeing. And all before the victim is aware of the theft.
The offenders have been described as appearing smart and tidy and speak with an Eastern European accent.
Other offenders interfere with ATMs (cash machines) using illegal devices that retain a victim’s bank card once it has been entered into the machine whist recording the PIN as the victim taps it into the keypad. The offenders then later retrieve the victims card and use it plus the PIN to obtain cash or purchases.
To prevent yourself from becoming a victim of these type of fraudsters remember the Golden Rules of;
- Pay by “Contactless” card payment whenever possible
- Never letting anyone see what your PIN is, cover your finger with your other hand as you enter your PIN.
- Never writing your PIN down, and
- Never saying your PIN out loud, to anyone.
- No one in any bank ever needs to know your PIN, No Police Officer or other legitimate investigator will ever need to know it, KEEP IT SECRET!
