CREDIT CARD THEFTS
A spate of credit card EFTPOS thefts has recently occurred in inner city Christchurch bars. Over the past few weeks Police have received about 10 complaints from people who have had their cards stolen and used after a night out drinking.
Detective Sergeant Ross TARAWHITI says that on one of those occasions between $6 – 7 thousand dollars was taken from an account.
“It’s quite prevalent,” he says. “I think that unsuspecting people are being specifically targeted. Someone is hanging round the till or the service area watching for a PIN number to be entered. When one has been seen and noted, that card is being stolen.”
Mr TARAWHITI suggests that inner city bars should consider improvements to bar design and install security cameras to enable people using credit cards to enter their PIN number privately without someone able to easily look over their shoulder. Customers should also be careful when using their card to shield their number and remember to pick their card up from the counter immediately afterwards.
Police do not know whether it is an organised group or a number of individuals involved in the thefts. However the chances of being a victim can easily be reduced.
“Whoever it is can be thwarted if customers are extra careful when entering their PIN so that no one else can see it, and then put their card away very carefully and securely. Never tell anyone your PIN, especially if it is asked for over the phone. The bank will never ask for it. ”
Mr TARAWHITI also advises to have a special credit/ EFTPOS card for going out for entertainment. This could have a small limit of just a couple of hundred dollars that would be low enough to stop someone else cleaning you out.