A KELLYVILLE couple have sworn
off using electronic transactions
after almost $2000 was stolen from
their bank account last week.
Deborah Petrin tried to use her
National Australia Bank card at a
Castle Hill supermarket on
Wednesday to pay for $30 worth of
groceries when it was declined for
insufficient funds.
The card did not work at an auto
matic teller machine, so she rang
the NAB and was told her account
was ``stable''.
She went online the next day to
check the balance of the account,
shared with husband Greg.
``$1000 was missing from our
account and there were five trans
actions at an unknown ATM using
Greg's card that were made in
Canada,'' Mrs Petrin said.
``We couldn't believe it, we feel
like we've been violated. It's an
awful feeling.''
The couple called the bank to can
cel Mr Petrin's card.
``But when we were on the phone
they called me on my mobile and
said my card had been used seven
times in three minutes, also in
Canada,'' Mrs Petrin said.
``My heart just sank.''
The NAB fraud department is
investigating the incident, but it
could take up to six weeks to
retrieve the money, if it is possible.
At the time of publication,
$1992.02 had been taken from the
account in nine transactions made
in Montreal and Toronto.
The bank also charged the couple
$36 in international withdrawal
fees.
The transactions were made over
two days, before both cards were
cancelled, and ranged from $21.38
to $429.29.
The Petrins are waiting to be
issued with new cards and have
resorted to using cash.
``But I don't know if we'll be using
them again,'' Mrs Petrin said.
The couple's bank manager told
them two similar incidents were
reported on Thursday, and all cards
had been used in Castle Towers.
The Petrins have also used both
cards in Eftpos transactions at Big
W in Rouse Hill Town Centre, petrol
stations in Kellyville, Castle Hill
McDonald's and various other
retailers.
``It might have been somewhere in
the last few days or over the past
year,'' Mrs Petrin said.
``You think you're safe because it
is a card and a PIN.
``It's not like we were on the
internet and we generally don't use
ATMs.''
``You think Castle Hill is a safe
area, so to have something like this
is a real worry.
``We want the money returned
and these people arrested.''
Castle Hill police received six
reports of similar incidents over the
past week, with all unauthorised
transactions made in Canada.
Crime commander Detective
Chief Inspector Wayne Murray said
police were working with fraud
departments of major banks and
investigating the method or device
used to obtain details from bank
cards, credit and debit cards.
He said residents should be as
conscientious as possible and cover
the keypad when entering their
PINs.
They should also look for obvious
signs of tampering at Eftpos and
ATM machines.
Victims of fraud should contact
their bank and the police assistance
line on 131 444.
The National Australia Bank told
the News it was unable to comment
on specific accounts for security
and privacy reasons.
NSW Police have formed Strike Force Wigg to investigate the use of skimming devices, which allow card data to be covertly captured then used to access a victim's account.
Commonwealth Bank spokesman Steve Batten confirmed financial institutions had been advised of a security concern on Friday.
``We will monitor potentially compromised accounts and contact customers to change their PIN,'' he said. ``If this is not done in 24 hours, we reduce the amount that can be withdrawn from an account.''
Card users are advised to check account statements regularly.
Police also advise card users to sign for credit purchases instead of entering their PIN details.
Stephen Wilson, the managing director of Lockstep, an authentication technology consultancy, said skimmers took data from the cards' magnetic strip.
``There is a metal chip on new cards. Once everybody is using the chip and we get rid of the stripe we will eliminate skimming,'' he said.
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