News

New Zealand ATM skimming investigation broadens

March 27, 2012

Police are revising upward their initial appraisal of a card scamming incident affecting customers of New Zealand's ANZ and National Banks (which are a part of the ANZ group), said a news article by the New Zealand Herald.

Two days ago, a report by the Herald said that 150 customer accounts had been compromised by thieves using skimming devices on three ANZ ATMs. A new report today said the skimming case now involved four machines with 500 customers affected.

The amount of money stolen from accounts remains unknown, but one National Bank customer claimed to have lost $3000. Another said $1300 had been withdrawn from his account at a bank in Bangkok, a city he'd never visited.

National Bank customer Matt Gers of Parnell said the bank had called him to ask if he was in New Zealand. Said Gers, "They told me money was being withdrawn from my current account in South Africa and they were alerted to it because there had been four $500 withdrawals in quick succession."

Police Sergeant Greg Ander of Takapuna said police believe the thieves came from overseas — possibly traveling on tourist visas or seeking a work permit — specifically to target cash machines, sending stolen card data to associates in other locations. "There's no reason to suggest they are going to stop. Banks have to be aware of it, and the public need to be vigilant," Ander said.

In the past six years, similar cases have occurred involving criminals from Russia, Romania, Canada and Malaysia — with more than $100,000 being stolen in some instances.

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