Complex bank card fraud

[davews]

Moderator note: Split from

TFL Contactless - stolen card

I had the misfortune to lose my debit card to a fraudster today up in London - long story, damned clever fraud, too long for here. As a result I have had my card blocked and a new one and pin is on the way. Minutes before all this happened I used it on the tube, a single zone 1 fare. Presumably...

www.railforums.co.uk

OK, will keep it short...

Approached by a 'French' chap by Paddington Street Gardens, off Baker St, who had an issue with his new EV (first lie, the car he was by obviously wasn't his) and wanted to ring his insurance company in France. Could I help him use the phone box opposite (perfect English..).

Far too easy to be taken in, you don't realise until it happens to you how easily they win you over. Ended up putting my card in the phone box slot, disappeared in a trice. Stupidly took his suggestion that it would come out if I keyed in my PIN and realised immediately he had been watching. Then magically a BT chap rang on the phone to say he would be along to unlock the phone, yes there was a card inside....

So many things I should have never have done and so many clues that it was a sham but as I said they are so clever in fooling you.

£500 quid taken from a nearby ATM then a couple of large purchases in Selfridges. I have learnt.

 

[Trackman]

Did the phone not look suspect? Sounds like a dummy phone to me.

I feel for you.

 

[davews]

The phone was definitely working as demonstrated by his 'BT' mate ringing up on it. Whether it would ever ask for a pin is the unknown and I feel an absolute twit in keying one in when there was nothing prompting me to do so. In hindsight of course a wrong pin would have cut his tracks pretty short when he tried to use it...

 

[rebmcr]

The phone was definitely working as demonstrated by his 'BT' mate ringing up on it. Whether it would ever ask for a pin is the unknown and I feel an absolute twit in keying one in when there was nothing prompting me to do so. In hindsight of course a wrong pin would have cut his tracks pretty short when he tried to use it...

Those gangs use fake card readers which look absolutely indistinguishable from the real thing. They will have attached it to the front or side of a real phone, again using a mount that is impossible to notice as a fake (without pulling the thing apart or being a 'phone spotter' familiar with the normal unmodified appearance).

 

[dgl]

Those gangs use fake card readers which look absolutely indistinguishable from the real thing. They will have attached it to the front or side of a real phone, again using a mount that is impossible to notice as a fake (without pulling the thing apart or being a 'phone spotter' familiar with the normal unmodified appearance).

AFAIK the card readers used on payphones don't need a pin, it's just like a contactless transaction and never take your card like the ones on a "pay at pump" card reader (used more for swiping loyalty cards).
One thing I have a habit of doing is trying to give the card slot a wiggle, a fake one will not be that secure and will probably move a fair bit.

 

[MikeWh]

like the ones on a "pay at pump" card reader (used more for swiping loyalty cards).

Pay at pump always authorises.

 

[davews]

I think this phone was one of the old phone card ones which was converted to take debit/credit when phone card was discontinued. A real slot in the cast iron (or whatever) body and looking very old. Not something stuck on by a scammer.

 

[Trackman]

I think this phone was one of the old phone card ones which was converted to take debit/credit when phone card was discontinued. A real slot in the cast iron (or whatever) body and looking very old. Not something stuck on by a scammer.

There are some still knocking around in London, but it's not a conversation as they don't completely swallow cards to read them, AFAIK.
The pic below shows a debit/cc card slot and the panel below is a removed phone card slot.
Did it look like this?

 

[dakta]

this is the kind of attack that we are all vulnerable to because complex, we have a bias towards helping people in need and his issue had urgency (as in couldn't use his vehicle) - you don't get the opportunity to give the warning signs proper thought and also it depends a lot on your frame of mind and mood at the time.

You can learn, but the next attack will be different though rely on similar principles. Without dropping our standards in society and being a bit more 'flat tyre? need change to make a call? etc youre on your own mate' there's no concrete defence.

It's a blow but don't take it to heart,

 

[rebmcr]

I think this phone was one of the old phone card ones which was converted to take debit/credit when phone card was discontinued. A real slot in the cast iron (or whatever) body and looking very old. Not something stuck on by a scammer.

Not sure what you meant by the card 'disappearing', then? That's what made me think it was a different kind of card slot.

 

[davews]

Nothing fancy like your photo Trackman, much older but did have a basic lcd display.
You are right dakta, it is deliberately worked out to slowly give you confidence in the chap and then give no opportunity to get away. I should just have walked away in the park and certainly not followed him across the road to the phone box. But all these 'please, please' things. Once he had me inside the phone box he had me over a barrel and I knew if I refused it could easily have turned violent. The speed in which he grabbed the card once I put it in the slot was amazing, I saw nothing. And then his claim it was out of sight in the phone and would come out if I typed my pin in totally implausible, but when you are in this situation you just do it. The final touch which I didn't mention in my first post was that the phone then rang saying it was a BT chap who was on the way to unlock the phone and get my card out, another ploy to keep you hanging around and not cancelling the card, definitely a pre-arranged thing.

It was one of these:

 

[Sm5]

Happened to a bunch of us at Brussels Midi.
10 lads, stag do.
Arrived Midi, headed to the station cashpoint.
Most of us used it, got cash.

As we were walleting up, this guy out of no where walks up, pulls the front off it and walks away with it.

Then afterwards we could see the remains of sticky pads that were holding it to the face of the current working machine.

Next up was a 30 minute beer delay whilst we all started calling our banks to stop the cards.

Fooled all of us, several of which work for different banks too.

 

[Trackman]

Once he had me inside the phone box he had me over a barrel and I knew if I refused it could easily have turned violent. The speed in which he grabbed the card once I put it in the slot was amazing, I saw nothing. And then his claim it was out of sight in the phone and would come out if I typed my pin in totally implausible, but when you are in this situation you just do it. The final touch which I didn't mention in my first post was that the phone then rang saying it was a BT chap who was on the way to unlock the phone and get my card out, another ploy to keep you hanging around and not cancelling the card, definitely a pre-arranged thing.

So, if I am correct you have put it in the slot and he has palmed it without you noticing?

 

[davews]

I was amazed how quick he grabbed it, he must have deliberately said something to get me to turn round and it was gone. I was stupid, but when you are in this situation it is far too easy to get caught.
Now have all the money refunded and long chat with Metropolitan Police who were very interested. As the police lady said, just walk away.