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Micro-cameras installed to record PIN numbers

High-tech ATM fraud warning in Bahrain

MANAMA, October 22, 2014

At least 174 credit and debit card holders in Bahrain have become victims of high-tech ATM fraud.

The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) confirmed that people's details and money had been stolen, but described the theft as a 'limited breach’, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Sources said ATMs at Bahrain City Centre and other locations were targeted by thieves, who installed phony readers to collect data from cards' magnetic strips.

They are also said to have installed micro-cameras to record PIN numbers as they were being entered.

“It is a limited breach that affected 174 cards locally and the Central Bank of Bahrain contacted the banks concerned to prevent such data theft from happening,” said the CBB in a statement.

It said authorities were quickly alerted by customers who received text messages as soon as illegal transactions were made using their card details.

The GDN has learnt that ATMs belonging to as many as six banks were targeted in the scam over the past two weeks.

“These fraudsters had physical access to ATMs and placed data detection devices and micro-cameras to capture details of customers,” one senior banker told the GDN.

He said the fraud had also been reported in Oman and the UAE.

“These people (behind the crime) create duplicate cards and use people's stolen data to make purchases,” he explained.

Another employee of a multinational bank said it had cancelled the cards of customers who were affected.

“We immediately cancelled those cards and notified our customers that new cards will soon be dispatched,” she said.

“There are several local and international banks affected by this fraud and, like other banks, we are investigating the case with the Interior Ministry and the regulator.”

She said the amount of money involved was small, although authorities have not revealed how much cash was stolen.

The Interior Ministry said its Anti-Corruption, Economic and Electronic Security Directorate had launched an investigation into the case.

“As the result of a number of banking operations through credit cards, the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption, Economic and Electronic Security follows the case in co-operation with CBB,” it said.

No further details were available. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | ATM | Fraud |

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