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An investigation is underway into a scam targeting drivers using
an Auckland parking building.
Card details have been stolen by scammers using skimmers and used
overseas.
The Westpac Bank in conjunction with the police is looking into
irregular use of car park credit card machines in Auckland City
Council's Downtown car park.
Thousands of Aucklanders use the Customs Street car park each week
and it's not yet known just how many have been affected by the
scam.
Credit card fraud victim Trevor Douglas discovered that his card was being used in Arizona.
"My Mastercard, was used in Arizona, at Wall Mart and they asked
was I in Arizona, and I said 'no'," Douglas said.
Many drivers who use the parking building say they are worried.
The scam came to light when banks realised the car park was a common point of purchase on fraudulent credit card transactions, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Credit card thieves are believed to have stolen the credit card details of thousands of people although it is unclear if they attached skimming machines or accessed the credit card database internally.
If they had internal access the thieves could be based overseas.
Security investigator Danny Toresen says scammers are taking skimming to new levels.
"Banks are increasing security on ATMs, so criminals are going to a softer target which is traditionally hasn't been hit before. So, parking machines, areas where credit cards are used a lot," says Toresen.
Westpac Bank says tens of thousands of credit cards may have been compromised and may need to be replaced.
They say people stung by the scam won't be held liable for the fraud.
It is up to banks to refund customers for rip-offs on their cards and banking ombudsman Deborah Battell says many are doing more to protect them.
"They've been contacting consumers if something looks unusual, if there are a series of high-value transactions - just to make sure that the customer has actually authorised those transactions," says Battell.
Council General manager finance Andrew McKenzie says they still don't know if the scam is the work of local or overseas criminals.
The fraud may have started years ago but had only been detected in the last few weeks.
The council's finance general manager Andrew McKenzie says the council has stopped accepting payment through the machine credit card facilities at the three car parks. People could still pay by credit card at the cashiers' booths.
The bank told the council of the problem but asked the council to keep the matter quiet while it investigated, McKenzie says.
But there's always a risk when people use the plastic and Danny Toresen says there are ways one can stop oneself being hit by criminals.
"Cover your pin, when you're putting it in, with your hand. Watch out for cameras, watch out for strange devices, and check your statements very closely."
The other option is to start using cash again.
Have you experienced credit card theft? Do you plan to use cash more often now? Please comment below...
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentjheb2007 said on 2009-11-25 @ 19:52 NZDT: Report abusive post
it hasn't happend to me....but a friend of mine got a call from her bank saying that her credit card had been used in some little town in the states....and of course she has never been there...