I work in a bank & we received an email from the Rotherham branch yesterday about three incidents which had happened.

A group were causing a commotion near the cash machines which distracted the people using them. While their attention wasn't on the cash machine, their money went "missing".

Not sure if they will try Sheffield or not, but please be careful, just in case. I'd suggest using the cash machines inside the banks if possible :)

Jessica x

Also, always rub your finger across the card slot, if you feel anything suspect just walk away and do not use the machine or inform the bank if its ajoined to a bank.

I can't vouch for all banks but Halifax maintain their own cash machines in the main branches and it's all dual controlled. I'm not sure if this is the case with the agencies and the remote ones (Jackson's supermarket & the Valley Centertainment) are maintained by Securicor.

The Abbey cash machine at the Asda in Handsworth has been "done" though. As you mentioned in regards to the card slot, a machine which makes a copy of your card is placed there. A camera or someone watching you nearby, then records/takes a note of what your pin number is.

Although it used to be suggested that you set all pin numbers the same, it's now suggested you don't. If someone knows your pin to one card, then they will know them all, so you won't be covered for this by the bank.

wasnt the city centre hsbc machine done with this slot trick.
something put on the slot and then a camera put above.
i always check slots now.

The device on the slot (technical term: lebonese loop, don't ask me why!) has been done a few times in Sheffield before now. I believe it was done recently at Morrisons at Catcliffe too.

The trick of distracting people while they're using cash machines is not a new one, I'm afraid. There was a trend in Sheffield last year for people to grab someone's bag while they were using a machine. Instinct says you chase the person, which means their mate can finish your transaction and withdraw funds from your account. It's best to try and use machines inside banks (doesn't have to be your own bank), or inside shops for safety. Or you could get cashback instead.

If you do spot anything suspicious near a cash machine, or you are concerned, please report it to the bank staff if the machine is outside a bank, or call the police. If you have any concerns after you've used a machine, call the lost and stolen cards number for your bank straight away. I would advise people to store these numbers in their mobile phone.

Originally posted by tara
wasnt the city centre hsbc machine done with this slot trick.
something put on the slot and then a camera put above.
i always check slots now.

Are we talking sticky, sugary stuff on the card slot? Our HSBC in Bexleyheath has that. I usually use the Barclays one which is by the bus stop - no one will no where I am talking about (!!), because Midland is miles up the high-street, which is a b**y nuisance to walk to. But, no I try and do it over the counter in the branch. Some banks have started all this "If it's under X Amount, please use the hole-in-the-wall"!

Alex

I always, always cover the keypad with one hand while I put my pin in with the other. Call me paranoid but no camera or no one looking over my shoulder can see what pin number I'm putting in.

Originally posted by Cols
I always, always cover the keypad with one hand while I put my pin in with the other. Call me paranoid but no camera or no one looking over my shoulder can see what pin number I'm putting in.

Aha - so you also spent ten years living in the urban jungle of Liverpool too, then :D

Originally posted by jessycar
I can't vouch for all banks but Halifax maintain their own cash machines in the main branches and it's all dual controlled. I'm not sure if this is the case with the agencies and the remote ones (Jackson's supermarket & the Valley Centertainment) are maintained by Securicor.

The Abbey cash machine at the Asda in Handsworth has been "done" though. As you mentioned in regards to the card slot, a machine which makes a copy of your card is placed there. A camera or someone watching you nearby, then records/takes a note of what your pin number is.

Although it used to be suggested that you set all pin numbers the same, it's now suggested you don't. If someone knows your pin to one card, then they will know them all, so you won't be covered for this by the bank.

I take it you work for the Halifax then jessycar?

Speaking of cash machines. There seemed to be a problem yesterday as most cash machines seemed offline for a couple of hours in the morning. Very frustrating. :rant:

If you mean in the very early hours of the morning, it's not uncommon for machines to be out of service as it's when updated software etc is downloaded.

Originally posted by KangaREW
I take it you work for the Halifax then jessycar?

Yeah, think I must have been bad in my past life ;)

Originally posted by Andy
If you mean in the very early hours of the morning, it's not uncommon for machines to be out of service as it's when updated software etc is downloaded.

Nope, this was 10am Saturday morning. I tried to withdraw money from 3 seperate machines and was presented with a message about cannot access my request. I assumed something had happened with my account and tried to access it via internet but that service was unavailable also. It was at this moment that I telephoned my bank using telephone banking to find out more and was told that there was some computer problem and all cash machines are offline and would be for a couple of hours. At just after 1pm I tried from another town and was able to obtain money no problem.

you're not with smile.co.uk by any chance are you?

They do that to me all the bloody time - at the most inopportune moments too

Originally posted by Lickszz
Speaking of cash machines. There seemed to be a problem yesterday as most cash machines seemed offline for a couple of hours in the morning. Very frustrating. :rant:

I've noticed this problem at cash machines either late on Saturday or sometimes all day Sunday...I always thought the machines were out of cash :D

I've noticed a wierd and somewhat annoying occurrence with the recently installed ATM outside the Co-Op up in the village, whenever I go up to use it, damn thing's always out of order, yet when Mum or Dad go, it works fine... :loopy:

I mean, I'm cynical about that kind of thing anyway and sometimes feel when things are going a bit pear shaped in my life that someone up there's got it in for me but like, eh?! The first time I could forgive it being out of order cos it had only been installed a week previous but not every time thereafter, that's too bizarre to be a coincidence :loopy:

Originally posted by Abdul
I've noticed this problem at cash machines either late on Saturday or sometimes all day Sunday...I always thought the machines were out of cash :D

Yes but as far as I'm aware when they are generally out of cash there is a message before on the screen before you put your card in. This took you through the procedures and then informed you that it was not possible to access your funds and to contact your bank. Very worrying. I thought the worst that some IT wideboy had managed to extract all my money from my account. :D

Originally posted by jessycar
Yeah, think I must have been bad in my past life ;)

So I take it that the Halifax has relaxed it's procedures on security by letting everyone know which security company it uses? I'm sure Securicor will be delighted when they get an undesirable waiting outside your branch to clobber one of its guards on the head for the money.

Originally posted by KangaREW
I'm sure Securicor will be delighted when they get an undesirable waiting outside your branch to clobber one of its guards on the head for the money.

If someone was going to rob a guard, I expect they'd plan it by watching a branch to see what time and day the guards come with the money. I doubt they'd do their research on this forum, somehow.

Still, not a good idea to talk about what are probably company confidential security arrangements.

I wouldn't have thought that any times/dates would be regular as clock work anyway. Surely it would be common sense to vary the times.

Surely it would be common sense to vary the times.

Not too sure they do that. There's many factors to consider e.g. distance van has to travel (may not be possible to reach bank and return within bank's opening hours) and amount of cash stored on premises - I'd be reasonably sure that insurance companies only insure premises to contain a maximum amount of cash. Another factor could be that routine is good - what happens if I turn up at a random time in my recently-nicked blue transit and ask for all their money? If it's a regular timeslot, at least the vans are expected and the guards' identities probably stand a better chance of being verified?

Back to the point though, yep - using your own bank's interior cash-machines, checking for suspicious devices and shielding your unique-for-that-card PIN from onlookers (even the bank's cctv (you never know who they employ as guards) is gonna be safest.

I would presume that there is a system in place where they have to phone and let them know they will be arriving shortly, perhaps using a code?

For example you will have seen that securicor have special vans that talk when reversing. You would be hard pushed to nick a replica complete with livery and all.

I myself and more concerned with getting jumped from behind at a machine than someone copying my card.

They was one at the ASDA in Handsworth. I realised just after I had put the card in, so cancelled the request before I'd put my PIN in. Like these people thought that everyone is so stupid when using cash machines..

Its just similar to the internet fraud you can get by e-mail...

Originally posted by KangaREW
So I take it that the Halifax has relaxed it's procedures on security by letting everyone know which security company it uses? I'm sure Securicor will be delighted when they get an undesirable waiting outside your branch to clobber one of its guards on the head for the money.

Well people who use the branches in town will see the securicor going in the branch, common sense tells u what for!

I've also seen Nationwide's cash machine near the City Hall filled up many times on Friday evenings by the same company.

Hardly hush hush what the company do is it?

Hi Folks

Even without the thief knowing your number, or making copies of your cards details be inserting a film strip which copies your card in the slot, ATM machines can still be used as a source of theft from the card holder, this is without them knowing your card details, or physically intervening by snatching your card.

While studying, we was set the challenge of looking into inherent weaknesses in ATM machines, and I personally know how to obtain other peoples money to this day, and it will be able to be done, even with the new cards!

Cost approx £100 to set up!

The banks still have not placed a precedure to stop this happening?

I avoid using them at all costs, or use them in well lit public places, where they cannot be tampered with, although inconvenient, I much prefer to have a little cash always at hand!

Regards

Mark. .

I was once on my own at a cash machine in town and got a tap on the shoulder. I turned around a 2 big burly blokes were there. I shat myself.

Turned out they were cid and wanted me to do a line up because I looked like the kid they were putting in it.

I done my nut! You would think policemen would have more sense than that....needless to say I declined from standing in the line-up.

Originally posted by Howy
The banks still have not placed a precedure to stop this happening?


How do you know they haven't?

Hi there

Because its visually obvious!

Regards

Mark. .

Originally posted by Howy
Hi there

Because its visually obvious!

Regards

Mark. . So whatever it is you know have you informed the banks.
I persume you have as you seem to be clued up with the info, but if the banks ignored your advice then take it higher to ensure something is done.
Very few people carry cash these days and the machines are a vital comodety today and we should not have to fear that every time we use them some fraudster has managed to clear your account.

Originally posted by Andy
The device on the slot (technical term: lebonese loop, don't ask me why!) has been done a few times in Sheffield before now. I believe it was done recently at Morrisons at Catcliffe too.

The lebonese loop is a different scam

Mod: Removed sensitive information.

I work in IT security for a bank and these things are a much bigger problem that any online fraud - but at the moment the losses are not sufficient in prompting any further action than advising customers to be careful.

I think a greater danger is the growing proliferation of those cardpoint machines (ofen found at motorway services and shopping malls).

For some years now most people have been able to withdraw cash at nil cost. However, as the banks get even greedier, they are replacing their own remote machines with ones run by Cardpoint, who charge you for withdrawing cash.

No doubt, some one who works for a bank will come on and tell us about the cost of running these machines blah blah blah, and how the banks are struggling with their multi billion £ profits.

To me it's simple, it's my money, the bank has it, uses it to make themselves a profit when I'm not using it, and I shouldn't have to pay when I want some of it.

Mod: Warning. Please DO NOT post details about how these methods work. Future posts with such content will be deleted.

Originally posted by kilauea

Mod: Removed sensitive information.

I work in IT security for a bank

If you do work in IT security for a bank, you should know better than to post sensitive information on a public forum. Have you no brain? :confused: :loopy: :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Tony
Mod: Warning. Please DO NOT post details about how these methods work. Future posts with such content will be deleted.

That's just crazy. The only way people can really be expected to protect themselves is by giving them the information they need to do so. Full disclosure. Any censorship of this information is just benefiting those that use the scams, not the victims.

Mod: Regardless, please do not post it here. Thanks.