Seven individuals arrested in card skimming fraud |05 September 2013

Seven individuals involved in card skimming fraud in Africa have been arrested, Barclays Bank (Seychelles) has said.

The seven individuals are from eastern Europe and South Africa.

Barclays Bank (Seychelles) adds that since it came out with the news about card skimming in Seychelles in mid-July, its Africa forensics team had been paying special attention to this matter.

A combined team of Africa forensics, Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank and Hawks investigators successfully arrested the seven individuals involved in card skimming in Africa on Friday August 23, 2013.

The individuals from eastern Europe were the masterminds behind the fraud and organised their criminal activities out of Cape Town. During the operation, 150 counterfeit cards were recovered.  Some of these cards were used in Botswana, Uganda, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania and Zambia along with high tech skimmers, laptops and other incriminating evidence.

Together with other recent arrests made by its Africa forensics in Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania, Barclays Bank says it has dealt a serious blow to the organised crime group behind many of the skimming activities affecting its business not only in Seychelles but in other parts of Africa.

Commenting on the arrests, Barclays Bank (Seychelles) Ltd managing director Rakesh Jha said:  “Protecting our customers from financial crime is very important to Barclays. We communicate and work with law enforcement agencies and other financial institutions on an ongoing basis to protect our customers from such crimes.  Our fraud monitoring system continuously verifies card transactions to protect our customers whenever they use their Barclays debit card, whether in Seychelles, online or abroad. This means that our customers can have peace of mind that their card is protected from unauthorised use. As a bank, we remain committed to protecting our customers and providing them with the comfort that we have their best interest at heart.”

Skimming occurs when the data on one’s ATM card’s magnetic strip is electronically copied on to another card without your knowledge. Skimming commonly occurs at retail outlets – particularly bars, restaurants and petrol stations – and at cash machines that have been illegally fitted with a skimming device. The stolen data is then used to create counterfeit cards.

Most people are unaware that they’ve fallen victim to this fraud until their statements arrive.

To protect yourself ensure that all payment transactions are processed in your presence at retail outlets; be cautious where you use your debit card especially when travelling overseas; refrain from using stand-alone ATMs, ATM or outlets in isolated areas; check ATM machines for signs of tampering ex. skimming device, small fitted camera and unknown residue on the ATM before you use them. 

If an unknown individual approaches you while transacting on the ATM, don’t accept help or communicate with them. Ensure no one is looking over your shoulder while you use the ATM.