I got this from the UAE Community Blog, please be careful using ATMs, I know there was a case a few weeks ago in Bahrain where two Bulgarians were apprehended supposedly for mounting such a crime, but there was no follow-up in the local press about them (I can’t recall a follow-up). This article is lifted from the UAE Community Blog for your reference:
A team of organized criminals are installing equipment on legitimate bank ATM’s in at least 2 regions to steal both the ATM card number and the PIN. The team sits nearby in a car receiving the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from equipment they install on the front of the ATM (see photos). If you see an attachment like this, do not use the ATM and report it immediately to the bank using the phone on the front of the ATM.
The equipment used to capture your ATM card number and PIN are cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM equipment. A “skimmer” is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a nearby car.
At the same time, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries.
The thieves copy the cards and use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM.
Equipment being installed on front of existing bank card slot.
The equipment as it appears installed over the normal ATM bank slot.
The PIN reading camera being installed on the ATM is housed in an innocent looking leaflet enclosure.
The camera shown installed and ready to capture PIN’s by looking down on the keypad as you enter your PIN
Be careful and spread the message!
Comments
ahhh. sneaky mofo’s…..
That was done in London too, it made the news and they cought some people. I got so paranoid i check the ATM everytime i make a withdrawl now.
I Denmark there has been several cases where advanced readers were installed in the ordinary supermarkets during burgleries. The cards were then “copied” and used elsewhere.
There has just been (within the last 2-3 weeks) several arrests of people found with many cards and a lot of cash.
Yeah I heard about such cases here too, but didnt know this was getting popular. Anyways how they do is once they install the readers on the ATM machines and clients go away.. all the information recorded on that lil evil thingy can be then copied to any card that has the magnetic bar( which allows you to hold info). They can get those type of cars from basically anywhere.. like blockbuster or wall-mart( gift cards).
I will not use any ATM machine anymore!:
Quite common here in the UK as Yousif said. It helps having an ATM card which is Chip & Pin ready ie. (no data read off the magnetic strip on the back). I just cover up my fingers when entering my PIN.