| Credit card fraud and identity theft are two | | | | |
| very real worries nowadays and if it was to | | | | Another technique used is known as shoulder |
| happen to you, it could cause you to suffer | | | | surfing. This is when people stand very |
| with stress and financial problems. | | | | close behind you to get your PIN and then |
| | | | jostle with you in order to get any credit |
| Withdrawing money from a cash machine is | | | | cards from you. It has also been known that |
| something people do everyday without giving | | | | some may then insert your card so that there |
| it a second thought, but you could be giving | | | | is no way of you getting it back and your |
| your personal information away without even | | | | card can then be duplicated very quickly. |
| knowing it. | | | | |
| | | | You should also be aware when your card is |
| A spokesperson from Cambridgeshire police has | | | | taken from you in order to scan it as there |
| said that credit card fraud and card cloning | | | | is a chance that it may have been put into a |
| is not the work of uncoordinated criminals | | | | card reader. It is always best to insert |
| who work on the spare of the moment, but | | | | credit cards yourself into the Chip and PIN |
| highly organised individuals who know exactly | | | | machine and then manoeuvre it so that no-one |
| what to do in order to get the information | | | | else can see your number. |
| they need. | | | | |
| | | | The introduction of Chip and PIN was to |
| An example of a fraud method used is with the | | | | reduce the number of fraud cases relating to |
| help of mini cameras that are inserted into | | | | credit cards and Cambridgeshire police have |
| the card slot and then record the PIN numbers | | | | said that it has definitely become much more |
| of people using the cash machine. | | | | secure in this country. |
| | | | |
| The first you will know of these techniques | | | | However, in some areas there has been an |
| will probably be when your bank calls you and | | | | increase in the number of fraud cases and |
| asks if you have been withdrawing money | | | | Apacs, the UK payment association think they |
| abroad recently. | | | | may know why. There has been a significant |
| | | | increase in card-not-present fraud, when |
| It is believed that there is probably a | | | | transactions are made over the phone, |
| lesser risk to you using your card whilst | | | | internet or through mail order. It is |
| inside a building rather than one outside, | | | | therefore imperative that any personal bank |
| however; there is no guarantee and it is | | | | details are destroyed, either by a shredder |
| therefore imperative that you check the | | | | or by ripping them up, this way there is a |
| machine that you are using for anything that | | | | smaller chance of any fraud taking place with |
| may not look right and report it immediately | | | | people's personal details. |
| if you find anything. | | | | |