Latest news with #skimming
ABC News
23-05-2025
- ABC News
ATM skimming still happens - but the future of cybercrime is changing
In New South Wales, two men have been charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through an ATM card skimming scheme. It's a type of scheme that's been around for a while - but with more of us ditching physical bank cards and cash for digital payment methods, what new vulnerabilities could criminals exploit? Professor at the Queensland University of Technology's School of Justice, Dr Cassandra Cross spoke with ABC NewsRadio's Rachel Hayter.
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- News.com.au
Two Romanian nationals accused of $800k ATM card-skimming scheme
Two Romanian nationals have been accused of stealing $800,000 from ATMs across Sydney in a cunning scheme. The Australian Federal Police arrested the men, aged 48 and 41, for their alleged roles in the scheme and they have been charged with money laundering and stealing financial information. Police allege the men inserted skimmers – thin metal devices – into ATMs that captured the financial data stored on the magnetic strips of bank cards and was accessed upon retrieval. Using the skimmers, the men are accused of cloning bank cards with the stolen data and defrauding victims of more than $800,000. The skimming scheme was used on ATMs across Sydney suburbs such as Chatswood, Darlinghurst, Burwood and Haymarket, and in the Illawarra suburbs of Warilla, Shellharbour, Fairy Meadow, Warrawong and Berkeley. The men obscured pinhole cameras on ATM machines to avoid detection, police allege. Investigations began in April after banks provided intelligence about Sydney ATMs being tampered with. A search warrant was executed by the AFP at the men's home in Chatswood and a storage facility in Homebush on Thursday. The pair were soon arrested and a third man was questioned and released pending further inquiries. AFP Superintendent Marie Andersson said the card scheme 'stole more than $800,000 from hardworking Australians and went straight into the pockets of criminals'. 'These brazen schemes hurt hardworking Australians who are already feeling the financial pinch,' she said. 'The men who were living in Chatswood are scheduled to appear before Hornsby Local Court today charged with money-laundering offences, dishonestly obtaining or dealing in personal financial information and other passport offences.' Ms Andersson said the number of alleged victims was unknown but was likely to be in the thousands. 'It's extremely difficult to detect if an ATM has been tampered, so we encourage (alleged) victims if they see if there's been some unauthorised transactions in their bank account to financial institutions, go to the Australian cybercrime security website and they will be able to report it through that avenue,' she said The pair are set to appear before court on Friday to face charges of laundering money worth $100,000 or more and dishonestly obtaining or dealing in personal financial information. The 48-year-old man was also charged with importing the skimmers with intent to dishonestly obtain or deal in personal financial information. Meanwhile, the 41-year man has also been slapped with additional passport offences, including possession of a false foreign travel document and submitting false or misleading information to a reporting entity. Police say if convicted, the men will face a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment for the money-laundering charge and three years' imprisonment for possession and dishonest use of financial information.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Men steal $800k in ATM card scheme: cops
Two Romanian nationals have been accused of stealing $800,000 from ATMs across Sydney in a cunning scheme. The Australian Federal Police arrested the men, aged 48 and 41, for their alleged roles in the scheme and they have been charged with money laundering and stealing financial information. Police allege the men inserted skimmers – thin metal devices – into ATMs that captured the financial data stored on the magnetic strips of bank cards and was accessed upon retrieval. Using the skimmers, the men are accused of cloning bank cards with the stolen data and defrauding victims of more than $800,000. The skimming scheme was used on ATMs across Sydney suburbs such as Chatswood, Darlinghurst, Burwood and Haymarket, and in the Illawarra suburbs of Warilla, Shellharbour, Fairy Meadow, Warrawong and Berkeley. The men obscured pinhole cameras on ATM machines to avoid detection, police allege. Investigations began in April after banks provided intelligence about Sydney ATMs being tampered with. A search warrant was executed by the AFP at the men's home in Chatswood and a storage facility in Homebush on Thursday. The pair were soon arrested and a third man was questioned and released pending further inquiries. AFP Superintendent Marie Andersson said the card scheme 'stole more than $800,000 from hardworking Australians and went straight into the pockets of criminals'. 'These brazen schemes hurt hardworking Australians who are already feeling the financial pinch,' she said. 'The men who were living in Chatswood are scheduled to appear before Hornsby Local Court today charged with money-laundering offences, dishonestly obtaining or dealing in personal financial information and other passport offences.' Ms Andersson said the number of alleged victims was unknown but was likely to be in the thousands. 'It's extremely difficult to detect if an ATM has been tampered, so we encourage (alleged) victims if they see if there's been some unauthorised transactions in their bank account to financial institutions, go to the Australian cybercrime security website and they will be able to report it through that avenue,' she said The pair are set to appear before court on Friday to face charges of laundering money worth $100,000 or more and dishonestly obtaining or dealing in personal financial information. The 48-year-old man was also charged with importing the skimmers with intent to dishonestly obtain or deal in personal financial information. Meanwhile, the 41-year man has also been slapped with additional passport offences, including possession of a false foreign travel document and submitting false or misleading information to a reporting entity. Police say if convicted, the men will face a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment for the money-laundering charge and three years' imprisonment for possession and dishonest use of financial information.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Skimming devices found on ATMs inside Wawa on Bethlehem Pike: police
HILLTOWN TWP., Pa. - If you've ever visited this busy Wawa in Bucks County, listen up, your money may depend on it. Police say skimming devices were found on two ATMs inside the store on Bethlehem Pike in Souderton. So if you made a purchase there anytime this month, check your bank accounts. What we know Hilltown Township police say if you used the PNC ATMs at the Wawa at 3520 Bethlehem Pike in Souderton from May 1 to May 11, make sure to check your bank accounts. The Wawa off of Bethlehem Pike in Souderton sees quite a few visitors to its PNC Bank ATMs, which don't have a surcharge. Hilltown Township police say they removed two skimming devices from two ATMs. One was located and removed last Monday, May 5, and the other was removed May 11. Police say they do not know how long these devices were on the machines. Skimming devices are used to steal card information, including card numbers, expiration dates, and PIN numbers, so the thieves can later access stolen accounts. What they're saying "It'll be a long time before I take money out, I guess," said Tara Benner. "Oh, I'm not happy about that, oh, mmhm, no," Benner added. "Yes, so there are probably a lot of affected people, and I don't want to be one of them," Benner noted. "Honestly, I wouldn't notice, because sometimes my chip works and sometimes it does not work, so I still have to swipe it, so wow," Benner said. While this customer wasn't affected by this particular ATM, she says she has been a victim before. "It did just happen to me recently down in the city. I had to get gas, and I went to one of those scary gas stations. That's all they had as an option. Sure enough, the next day money went flying out of my account," said Ann Marie Woodworth. After canceling cards and calls with banks, she was able to recover her money. "It's also really frustrating because somebody is out there, and this is what they are doing all day long—scamming money from us while we are out working hard," Woodworth added. In this situation, police say they are still investigating these devices. "You'd think that would be another level of protection. There aren't enough, obviously," Woodworth commented. What's next Police say they are working with Wawa to obtain video in the investigation. Police also say if you see any unauthorized activity with your account, contact your bank and your local police department. The Source The information in this story is fro Hilltown Twp. police.
