Cash machine or ATM fraud is when fraudsters or criminals use cash machines to take data or even the debit or credit cards themselves to use for fraudulent transactions.

What are the criminals doing?

Skimming is when a criminal fits a small device in the card slot of the ATM. This little gadget captures the data from the magnetic strip on the back of a bank card. They will also conceal a camera to film the PIN number. The fraudster then puts the stolen bank card data onto the magnetic strip of another card, such as a mobile top up card, which is then used to make cash withdrawals, often overseas.

Card trapping occurs when a device fitted to the card slot stops your card being returned to you. Once you’ve left the machine, the fraudster prises the device off, taking your card. 

A doorstep scammer visits your home in the hope of scamming you out of your money or stealing items from your house.

Always be careful of strangers at your door

• Always ask for identification before letting someone into your house
• Never let a stranger, such as a sales person or charity collector, into your home unless you're expecting them
• Never disclose personal information or bank details to an unexpected salesman who knocks on your door

If you feel presurred by an unexpected visitor, take their details and ask them to leave. Call the police if they refuse.

Criminals use investment fraud to steal the money you want to invest. They promise great returns when you invest in a scheme, shares or commodities. The problem is they are either selling you things that are worthless or don’t exist.

What to look out for

• Unexpected phone calls (Cold-calls) by someone you don’t know, trying to sell you investments and promising huge financial gains – hang up immediately!
• Out of the blue emails - don’t respond!
• People you don’t know who know a lot about you - Scammers will do their homework and make it their business to know as much about you as possible before they contacting you.
• People giving you details you think only a genuine investment company would have e.g. previous investment and share information – proceed with caution!
• People saying they’re from well-known investment companies - be sure to check independently.

If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is! 

When you think you’ve met the perfect person online however the other person is using a fake profile to form a relationship with you. They’re using the site to gain your trust and ask you for money or enough personal information to steal your identity.

SIM swap is a genuine service which allows you to keep your existing phone number and change between different SIM sizes or phone providers.

 

It is also a technique which is becoming increasingly common amongst fraudsters as it can provide them with the ability to use your mobile phone number and benefit from all your functionality and services such as receiving/making phone calls or receiving/sending SMS messages as well as using any data allowance.

If you have any concerns you should phone your telephone provider immediately to confirm whether a SIM swap has been undertaken, if it is confirmed you must phone your Bank/s, who may hold your mobile number as a contact for you.