Card tricks cause surge in account scams

Criminals no longer need to pick our pockets to rob us — they’re doing it electronically. Consumer correspondent Paul Kelly reports.

IF YOU were one of 40 people who used a cash machine in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, one Saturday morning earlier this month your pocket might feel a lot lighter today.

The Bank of Ireland ATM in Market Cross was fitted with a rogue cloning or “skimming” device and copied the details of 40 cards inserted during a 37-minute period on October 13.