Officers from the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) are alerting commuters and other train users to be vigilant when buying train tickets at unmanned ticket machines on the rail and tube network.
The specialist joint police unit – which consists of Metropolitan police officers, City of London police officers and card payment industry investigators – has noticed a rise in the number of card skimming devices being placed on payment keypads at ticket machines in London train stations. These devices capture the credit and debit card details from unsuspecting members of the public.
The DCPCU has been working with the British Transport Police (BTP) and Transport for London (TFL). The unit is reminding the public of the best ways to protect themselves when buying their tickets.
To minimise the chances of falling victim to this type of fraud, cardholders should follow common sense advice:
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If someone close to the ticket machine is behaving suspiciously, use a different one.
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If there is something unusual about the machine and you suspect that a skimming device has been attached to it, do not use it and alert a member of staff at the train station or the police.
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Use your free hand to shield the keypad when you enter your PIN.
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If someone starts crowding or watching you, cancel the transaction immediately and use another machine.
Cardholders should always check their bank statements regularly and thoroughly for any unfamiliar transactions, and contact their bank or card company if they spot any.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Barnard, who heads the DCPCU, said: "We urge tube users to stay on their guard to help prevent themselves from being scammed. Officers from our specialist unit, which has a national remit, are working very closely with TFL and the BTP to ensure that these fraudsters will not benefit from their criminal activity. We also want to reassure people that any innocent victim of this scam will get their money back from their bank or card company.”
