A few months ago I was checking my bank balance and noticed a couple of transactions that were unusual ( especially as they were for £250). On closer inspection these transactions were taken in euros and from holland. I had to stop and think for a moment as I had just returned from abroad ( Ireland though not Holland, but was expecting foreign exchange transactions). I immediately phoned my bank (Natwest, very good and helpful) and explained these eroneous transactions and got put through to the Fraud department .There they explained that there were several more transactions that were queing up on my account from ATM's in Holland, they said my card had been cloned and was probably from a petrol station or similar and advised me that if a shop has used the chip'n'pin device they do not and should not also swipe your card. If they do then this is probably a fraudulant action and possible cloning process. Apparantly when this happens they have your pin from the cctv and the card number from the swipe.
Just yesterday I went into my local Threshers for a bottle of wine, payed on my switch and entered my pin. They then swiped my card before I knew it, unwanting to cause a scene I left the shop with the thought of ' Oh no not again'. I promptly went to the nearest cashpoint and changed my pin number, just to be on the safe side.
Note to self - Hide entry of pin, watch them swipers and check bank account regularly.
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