Police are investigating after a card skimming machine was found at a bank in Kiama today, NSW Police say.
About 10.45am today police were called to a bank on Terralong Street, Kiama, after the manager reported a card skimming machine had been found on their ATM.
Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Local Area Command attended to location and found the machine appeared to have been tampered with. A skimming device was located and a crime scene was established.
Police have launched an investigation and the device will undergo forensic analysis.
Meanwhile, the public can stop reduce the risk of falling victim to card skimmers by following the safety tips below.
• Keep your credit card and debit cards safe and never lend them to anyone.
• Do not share your personal identity number (PIN) with anyone; Do not keep any written copy of your PIN with the card; cover your hand when entering your PIN into an ATM or EFTPOS machine.
• Check your bank account and credit card statements when you get them and, if you have internet banking access, regularly check your transactions for irregularities. If you see a transaction you cannot explain, report it to your credit union or bank immediately.
• Choose passwords that would be difficult for anyone else to guess.
• If you are using an ATM, take the time to check that there is nothing suspicious about the machine. If an ATM looks suspicious, do not use it and alert the ATM owner, bank or police.
• When making a purchase, do not allow your card to be taken out of your line-of-sight.
• If a manual transaction takes place in lieu of an EFTPOS terminal, ensure the carbon copy of the transaction voucher is destroyed.
• Be aware of people in your vicinity when using your PIN during any electronic transaction.
• Familiarise yourself with the emergency contact numbers for your card provider and financial institution.
Anyone who has fallen victim to EFTPOS or ATM card skimming is also urged to contact Crime Stopers.
