Warning - Credit card scam - Dartford Area!

[gary tompkins]

Wasn't sure where to stick this - but hope the message gets out?

I've just had my bank debit card (chip & pin) cloned, and about £300 taken from my current account since the weekend. Luckily the bank spotted the dodgy transactions (money was going out to Dubai) and blocked the card.

I went to the bank today to find out what's going on, and they said loads of customers from different banks have been hit in the last few weeks. Some have had accounts emptied before it's been rumbled, but luckily for me the my bank spotted it early. The money always goes out to places overseas like Malaysia, Hong Kong, South africa or india.

Current theory is the cards are being cloned at a local (dartford) petrol station.

Several of the guys I work with have also had cards cloned locally. One had over £1000 spent on his credit card before it was spotted by his bank.

If you use petrol stations in the Dartford area, keep an eye on your bank account and report any unusual debits to your branch straight away.

With any luck the robbing toss pots will get a visit from plod very soon

B-A-S-T-A-R-D-S!!! :Furious:

[Chappers]

By any chance were you using a Barclaycard?

Everyone I know that has experienced this kinda fraud ie. jewellers in Senegal, casino's in Dubai etc have all been with Barclays.

My boss had £12000 taken on his Company Credit Card only last month, cleared it right to the limit in a matter of 3 days and Barclays failed to spot this and realise that he'd purchased a train ticket and lunch in Euston on one of the dates....how could he be in Euston and Senegal, Dubai and India in the same 3 days.

Sorry to hear this has happened to you and hopefully the bank will refund the missing funds like Barclays did for my boss, stepdad and brother.

[Gimley]

I had the same thing happen around a month ago. Luckily Barclays spotted a couple of dodgy transaction in South Africa and phoned me straight away. B'stards got away with £180 but could have been worse.
Just got the money refunded to my bank account. I am positive mine was done at a petrol station as they are the only places I usually use it.

Stupid thing is, I asked the bank if I should report it, they said you can if you want, I then phone Police and they say not to bother as the bank will send details through.. :banghead:

Has made me more careful though..like when they take your card off you to swipe it behind the desk...I now wont let this happen or use cash in those places. Always cover the machine as well now when im entering the pin as the places that clone the cards usually have some sort of camera to try to capture your pin as well..If this happens then you can be sure your account will be wiped out...

In the words of a classic police show presenter...."Keep em Peeled"

[gary tompkins]

Thanks for the feedback guys

Chappers,

It was by current account debit card that was cloned - not a credit card. I did have a Barclaycard years ago, but don't use any credit cards now.

Just got a copy of the Dartford Extra (free paper) through our letterbox, and the front page has an article about a sudden increase of card fraud hitting the area. It also mentioned banks & police suspect the cards are being cloned at a local garage. The article quotes a woolwich customer whose wife had her card cloned locally, and £1000 was withdrawn at ATM's in india before it could be stopped.

I should be able to get money refunded, but also have to wait for a new debit card to be issued to access my account - all of which could take weeks and is complete PITA. I've no axe to grind with my bank (Abbey National) though, who have been brilliant so far. It was their prompt action that saved my account from being emptied out in the first place - top marks :thumbsup:

[Chappers]

Word of warning...

I'm with Abbey and it took them 23 days, yes 23 days to send me my replacement debit card last month and then I waited a further 7 days for my pin - so I was having to leave work on some days to walk into a branch to withdraw cash and was withdrawing anything upto £300 at a time as I had no way of paying for shopping, fuel etc and couldn't keep asking to leave work early.

I don't do credit cards, hate them but boy did I wish I had one for those 23 days :(

[alan c]

hi gary, been told it is whitehouse garage, farther inlaw had cars cloned last week i think, bank have blocked his card, garage under investigation by card fraud team !

[scrapps]

O bugg er went to slobs tuesday and filled up in that area on way back with company cc.:worried: just of to check account..:on: cheers for warning

[Jacqui]

Thanks for the warning Gary, I won't be using any garages in Dartford then! Luckily I usually fill up at the garage close to my work place in london. Who would think this could happen in the sleepy little town of dartford!!!!!!!!!