Gangs target bank letters

SOPHISTICATED fraudsters are targeting communal mailboxes in apartments, stealing bank details, changing pin numbers and then rifling accounts.

Garda Fraud officers yesterday issued the warning after a person in Cork had their account defrauded to the tune of €1,200.

It is the first time they have come across such an elaborate deception, but believe well-organised gangs of foreign nationals are behind the scam.

A garda spokesperson said that landlords and tenants of flats and apartments needed to beef up security on the mail boxes, especially ones which were communal and easily accessed.

It is understood that the gang intercepted bank account details from the person’s mailbox. They then contacted the bank and asked for a new access pin number. The bank supplied one and it is believed this was again intercepted at the mailbox.

“Fortunately the victim accessed their account very shortly afterwards, but discovered that they had lost €1,200. The bank has since reimbursed the money,” a garda spokesperson said.

However, he pointed out that if the victim hadn’t checked the account so soon a lot more money could have been defrauded.

The investigation is continuing, but it is understood that no arrest has yet been made.

“Some mailboxes are at the side of the street. They can be forced open, or people can get into them by using a duplicate key,” the spokesperson warned.

He said this was the first time the fraud squad had encountered such a scam, but as it had been done once they had no doubt the fraudsters would try and do it again.

“There is evidence to show that foreign nationals are targeting mailboxes in apartment blocks obtaining bank account details and credit card numbers. It seems to be a reaction to the new chip and pin system,” the spokesperson added.

He said the danger existed that mailboxes would be rifled for credit cards, cheque books and bank correspondence.

There has been a major rise in credit card and bank fraud cases in recent years in Cork, which gardaí are attributing to organised gangs of foreign nationals who are much more sophisticated than our own home-grown criminals.