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CARD FRAUD
Just after five in the morning police got a call from a village between Witney and Charlbury. It was refuse collection day and an early-riser had seen a stranger quickly shuffle through the contents of a neighbour’s blue wheelie bin.
There was no doubt in the police mind what he was up to and they were round within minutes. Unfortunately he’d made off --- presumably to try his luck elsewhere. This incident explains why there has been an upsurge in the sale of paper shredders, because in addition to stealing cards and cash some thieves now specialise in stealing identities. And to do that they need as much personal information about their victim as possible.
Inside some black bins are the details about residents they require. Bank statements, utility bills, credit card receipts, old cheque stubs can be sufficient usable information to open an account in somebody else’s name. Or the thief could take over the running of a genuine account and either arrange for payments to be taken or instruct a bank to change the address and ask for new cards to be issued.
Card fraud also takes other forms. Be very wary about letting it out of sight. Of course most restaurants or bars are above board --- but why allow a waiter take a card away to pay the bill. Accompany the card to the cash desk to ensure it does not get skimmed, the process by which data on the magnetic stripe is copied electronically.
Inevitably the Internet now plays a part in card fraud. Junk mail and junk phone calls have been joined by bogus emails. The process of “phishing” involves trickling victims into revealing personal information. Although every cardholder knows details should never be given over the phone to cold callers; there are still those taken in when the call appears to be from a bank or the police supposedly checking on dodgy transactions. No genuine caller would ever ask for those details.
Credit cards first came to the UK in 1966 and ever since criminals have been looking for ways to exploit cardholders. Chip and PIN, anti-virus software and secure websites all play their part in protecting the public --- and the humble shredder is a worthy addition to that list. -------------- Bill Butcher, Crime Reduction Advisor, Thames Valley Police 01993 893878
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