Latest Debit Card Fraud Trend

June 2, 2009

The West Vancouver Criminal Investigations Section has uncovered a new ruse that cuts to the heart of the community’s financial integrity and security. An investigation into debit card skimming at a now defunct Quiznos store in the 1400 block of Marine Drive West Vancouver, found that during a period of approximately three weeks, a debit card skimming device was installed on the premises by a third party. During the time that the skimming device was in place, debit and credit cards used there were compromised.

The West Vancouver Police Department and the Vancouver Police Department’s Identity Theft Unit are combining resources to work on this file.

A person of interest has already been arrested and counterfeit credit cards have been seized.

It was established that in order to carry out the offence, a suspect approached the store owners after finding that the store was listed for sale. The suspect feigned being a motivated purchaser. The suspect advised the store owner that in order to get a true accounting of the amount of business the store was bringing in, the suspect would have to install his own PIN pad terminal. Once in place, the new terminal was only set up to record and embezzle credit card and debit card information when cards were swiped. Several business owners have fallen victim to this ruse; therefore, police are urging business owners to be extra vigilant.

The same suspect has also been identified as a man falsely claiming to be a PIN Pad technician. While allegedly fixing business owners PIN Pads, he would install his own PIN pad terminal effectively skimming credit and debit card information of unsuspecting customers.