ATM card Scammers at work In Rathmines

Sleipnir

Just to let everyone know that they are some guys at work using the ATM card scam (the one where you put your card in and it seems like it's been swallowed by the machine, then the guys come along and clean you out)
Over the weekend it happened to 3 people I work with.
The scammers still need to see you enter your pin number so be on your guard when entering it.

Victor

Have you told the Garda and the banks?

sceptre

Originally posted by Kananga
(the one where you put your card in and it seems like it's been swallowed by the machine, then the guys come along and clean you out)

How does this work then?

Sleipnir

well one of the guys knew of the scam and when his card appeared to have been swallowed, he called the Gardai and one of them came out to him. The Gard said there was nothing he could do as the bank was shut and he couldn't remove the card himself (which is fair enough I guess). But he said that seeing as he reported it to the Gardai the bank would refund him if anything was taken.
It's actually called the Lebanese Loop. The guys put something into the machine, like their own slot or a piece of looped tape. Someone comes along and puts their card in, it goes into the slot. They then enter their pin (which the scammer needs to see) but nothing happens. Believing their card has been swallowed they leave. Scammer comes along, pulls on the looped tape and out pops the card.

Sleipnir

here's one i found from Hertfordshire Constabulary

March 25, 2003
GOOD SAMARITAN FOILS LEBANESE LOOP SCAM

POLICE are renewing their appeal for ATM users to be alert when withdrawing cash following another incident of a device being inserted into the machine to withold cards.

The device, dubbed the Lebanese Loop, is placed inside the machine and traps the user’s card. The offender will often stand behind the user and encourage them to type in their PIN number. Once the victim has left, believing that the machine has withheld their card, the offender steps in, removes the device and is then able to use the card with the PIN number.

The latest incident occurred at Midland Bank in Ware High Street around 7.30pm on Thursday (March 20) when the victim, a man from Ware, attempted to withdraw some cash.

The machine initially appeared to have witheld the victim’s card, and a man and woman standing nearby advised him to re-enter his PIN number and then suggested that he leave the card in the machine and contact the bank the next day.

At this point the cash point user became annoyed and the couple walked away towards Star Street.

A passer by, who was aware of the Lebanese Loop scam, pulled up nearby and managed to assist the victim in ejecting both the card and the Lebanese Loop device before alerting police.

The first offender is described as a man, approximately 35 years old, 6’ tall and well built. He was smartly dressed in a long dark coloured coat, had receding black hair and is described as being of Eastern European appearance and spoke with a foreign accent.

His accomplice was a woman, approximately 25 years old, 5’ 8” tall and of slim build. She had long blonde hair, and is also described as being of Eastern European appearance with a foreign accent.

Anyone with information relating to the offence should contact the Eastern Area Crime Desk on 01992 533002. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on freephone 0800 555111.

To avoid becoming a victim of cash point crime, the Constabulary advises ATM users to:

be extra vigilant when using cash machines to withdraw money
be aware of people standing behind you
don’t allow yourself to be distracted, especially after you have inserted your card and PIN
if you feel that anything suspicious has happened whilst you have been withdrawing cash report it to the police straight away
if a machine retains your card, DON’T walk away and leave it unattended. Make contact with your bank immediately to establish why your card has been retained. If there is no reasonable explanation, ask the bank to cancel your card and contact police