The Kintyre Forum

Yesterday afternoon the police found a scanning device on the ATM machine at the Bank of Scotland in the town. It may have been there since as early as Friday morning. Not sure how these things work, but if you used the machine during that time you are prob best cancelling your card to be on the safe side.

Hope nobody`s been "done" by this, it happened to my hubby in Boston a couple of years ago, over £600 went from his account, luckily the bank made good. He`s been extra careful since then.

Mist Rolling In wrote:Yesterday afternoon the police found a scanning device on the ATM machine at the Bank of Scotland in the town. It may have been there since as early as Friday morning. Not sure how these things work, but if you used the machine during that time you are prob best cancelling your card to be on the safe side.

I used it Friday around 6.30pm and when I heard Saturday that a scanning device was found I went down and changed my pin number but not sure if this would be enough as don't understand how it works , will go by my bank tomorrow .

As you look at the ATM how can you tell if a scanning device is in place?

It's not 'A Scanning Device' ! It's a Scamming device !! ie a False front over the original ATM front with some cute software running and a Card skimming device.... Once you enter your card into the fake front the magnetic strip is read into the device, this is where all your data is kept in 3 layers.... Once this data has been collected and your Pin has been snatched all that has to be done is a blank card (same as a mobile topup swipe card etc) is then programmed with your stolen details from your original Magnetic strip...

Pic of a fake front.... -> http://www.pwn3d.us/wp-content/uploads/ ... ta_boa.png

This card can then be used for a few days around various ATM's (Because you entered your PIN) (Are you all still following ? ) Either until your hacked account is reported or your account has been emptied....

Chinese card readers and programmers have been available for years now and for an outlay of $100, you can never be safe at all now because of this, Dubious restaurants have been using these devices for years, when paying for a meal or shopping anywhere, especially abroad.... NEVER LET YOUR CARD OUT OF YOUR SIGHT !

When Chip and Pin came in, in 2003 it was meant to solve a lot of these problems, this was meant to phase out the hackable magnetic strip, but the magnetic strip have remained basically as a backup and incase the chip cannot be read...

At the tail end of 2010 Cambridge Uni hacked the Chip and Pin security and released the software to do this as open source, no bank card is 100% same now... If your worried about your cash, keep it under your bed, for all the interest you get in the bank anyway

You really have to be aware were you are actually sticking your card into nowadays....

But in all honesty how people cannot distinguish between a fake Atm cover and a real ATM front is beyond me...

Maybe because i've been in the Technology game all my days etc I notice things that are out of place...

Be alert.... and stay safe.... (Goes with your Computer too....)

maxmix

Thanks Maxmix - I did follow your remarks - worth reminding us, you get a bit complacent about things, especially in your home town. Sad isn't it when you can't trust anything or anyone any more.

Any hints how to tell the difference between fake and genuine ATM fronts ??

One of my friends actually commented on how Bank of Scotland needed to change their machine on Saturday morning as it totally scratched her card! She had a good look at it, but never spotted anything odd - but then, like Pans Lass I guess you don't expect these things in Campeltown.

Good advice from Maxmix - can never be too careful I suppose. I guess if all else fails, getting cash-back in a Supermarket seems like a safer option. Although following a scam in Safeway before Christmas I would suggest always, always checking that what is on the receipt matches what is in your hand before you walk away from the till!

Hope it wisnae you HD ; you seem tae ken an affa loat aboot a' this kinna stuff !

There seems to have been problems in Oban as well. The two cash machines at The Bank of Scotland, one at the Nationwide and the one at the Coop Supermarket have been taped off by the Police today.

Any Romanians in the town? They are the ones that carry out that scam down this neck of the woods

How hard is it for banks to have cctv and anti-tamper alarms on cash machines?? And hasnt this happend before at New Year? Same bank? Oh yes and isnt there a big camera that looks up Longrow? I am with maxmix here keep it below the bed!

loggerstu wrote:I am with maxmix here keep it below the bed!

And if your worrying about your house going up in flames, invest in some Gold bars.... I'm sure it's just under 2000 degrees F before it will start to melt.... (At least you will be left with something)

@loggerstu The Bank of Scotland was 'done' not that long ago, you would think 'your' bank would learn by it's mistakes....
I'm sure the bank's CCTV that is forward facing (Built into the top of the ATM) is working...

As for the Council/Police Camera pointing down Longrow South, that is anchored above the bakers is knackered... I know this was the case a while back, but surely it is fully working now !

@roddy I gave up on banks years ago.... Just stick to Bookies now !

@Everyone else Just take that extra moment before you click on something on your PC, or in any situation that looks dubious.... and always check your receipt as Hels says, especially if your doing a big shop at a supermarket...

I know of a few people that has had £10-£30 cashback put onto their receipt without there knowledge...

All the person on the till does before the end of cash up / shift is, whip out the money out of the till and it's pocketed.... This x 10 a day is a hefty addition to wages, if the supermarket has mega camera's and sticking the £££ down a Bra is not possible, the extra cash is passed out to a friend or relative who is just acting like a normal customer at the checkout.....

Stay Safe

maxmix

PS Google 'Fake ATM's' plenty pics about on the web....

So..... how did the polis know it was a false scanner at the ATM??????

Found this on Google, it may be Australian but it works for everyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUyiUAx4NxY&feature=related

Hi Loocille - welcome to the Forum.

There is no way to repair a card which has been magnetised/demagnetised (as far as I know) The data is held on the strip in a magnetised manner, and once it has been re-arranged/erased (i.e. affected by magnets) it is not possible to reset it back to how it should have been.

A new card is the only option I'm afraid