POLICE WARNING OVER PARKING METER AND CASH MACHINE FRAUDSTERS
Police today issued a local alert about a male suspect posing as a parking attendant or member of the public who approaches users of cash machines and tries to get their PIN numbers.
The police said:”Please remain vigilant when using parking payment machines or cash machines (ATMs) anywhere within the Richmond Borough.
“There have been reports of a scam in which a male suspect, posing as a parking attendant or a helpful member of the public, approaches individuals and offers assistance while they are using a parking machine or ATM.
“During this interaction, the suspect may attempt to obtain your debit or credit card and PIN, before leaving the area and using the card fraudulently.”
To protect yourself:
• Never share your PIN with anyone.
• Do not hand your bank card to another person.
• Shield the keypad when entering your PIN.
• If approached by someone offering unsolicited assistance, remain cautious and retain control of your card at all times.
If you believe someone is attempting to distract or scam you, attract attention immediately by shouting for help. This can deter the offender and alert others nearby to the situation.
Please stay alert and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.
“We consider fraud to be a serious crime and will put the time in to tackle it however we can. In the meantime, there are ways to keep yourself safe,”the police said.
Fraud comes in many forms and across various different channels, whether that’s through emails, phone calls or in person encounters. Please see a few resources below to protect you and others from potential fraudsters:
- Learn the ten golden rules to prevent fraud.
- Find out about the most common types of fraud.
- Download The Little Book of Big Scams to find out more. The Little Book of Big Scams audio version is also available.
For more information and help and to report fraud, go to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre.
Lastly, if you think you’ve uncovered a scam, been targeted by a scam or fallen victim to fraudsters, please contact 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at Action Fraud.