Australia banks withhold details of card-skimming scam from affected account holders
October 20, 2009
According to a report from WAtoday.com, a news Web site covering Western Australia, banks in the region are declining to reveal to customers the details of ATM and POS machines hit in a card-skimming scam.
The report says that more than 1400 accounts had been hit thus far and it's possible that as many as 2500 people had money stolen.
The Australian Bankers' Association's CEO David Bell told WAtoday.com that the banks in question would only work with the police on the matter:
Banks do not reveal information related to crimes which are under investigation by police. Banks leave it to the police to decide what information should be provided to the community. As stated, no bank wishes to compromise a police investigation.
A police source told WAtoday.com that the banks are worried about consumers avoiding the targeted locations and that affected retailers are reluctant to come forward, as well.