February 12, 2013 6:19pm
1. The public is advised to take precautions when using automated teller machines (ATM) in light of a scam run by an international syndicate that steals money from people's bank accounts by copying their ATM card data.
2. The syndicate's modus operandi involves secreting a card reader with a memory chip, which copies the data from the ATM card, in the machine.
3. A camera is also placed in the machine to acquire the cardholder's PIN (personal identification number).It was reported that in 2012, around P20 million was stolen this way.
4. Interviewed in the report, a mother said her 13-year-old son was one of the syndicate’s recent victims when it was found out that less than a hundred pesos was left of the money he had saved for years.
5. Cecille Borromeo said her son’s bank told them that his money was apparently withdrawn in another country. They were asked if her son had a passport, and while he did, Borromeo said they did not leave the country at the time of the incident.
6. Mike Bernabe, chair of the Inter-Network Anti-Fraud Committee, advised the public to follow the warnings and precautionary measures of banks and to be on alert for anything abnormal, in which case they should immediately report the incident.
7. He also said should it be proven that a person has fallen victim to the modus operandi, he or she will be assisted accordingly.
8. “If validated na it is really a clone or scheme card, we reimburse the customer the amount of the unauthorized withdrawal,†Bernabe said.
9. Banks have already installed fraudulent detection inhibitors (FVI) in ATM card slots so the machines won’t be installed with card readers. Cover shields to protect customers' PINs have also been put in place.
10. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it has not been lacking in reminding banks to beef up their security measures.“Mayroon po talagang requirement ang bawat bangko na magkaroon po ng security program at security officer,†said Johnny Noe Ravalo, managing director of the BSP Central Supervisory Support Sub-Sector.
11. “Ang kontribusyon naman po ng ating mga kababayan is to make sure hindi tayo pabaya sa paggamit ng gadgets,†he said.
12. In September last year, an operation turned up a skimming device attached to ATMs that could also copy credit card information.
13. However, police acknowledge that it is difficult to prosecute the people behind these types of crimes because they are bailable offenses.
14. “Pag-aaralan ng legislative body natin ang other option para ma-address [ang issue],†said Philippine National Police Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division chief Supt. Benjamin Acorda. — Gian C. Geronimo/BM, GMA News
