Debit card fraud suspects nabbed in $1M bank ATM scam

A $1-million debit card machine scam operated by people in Quebec and Ontario has been dismantled, Quebec provincial police announced Thursday.

Four suspects were arrested inSt-Sauveur, Que., near Montreal, and in Toronto. Four more are being sought in Toronto and North York.

Capt. Richard Gauthier of the Sret du Qubec said police believe the suspectsinstalled cameras and card-reading devices on automated teller machines at Canadian banking institutions. The card-reading devices skimmed the cards for bank information, while the cameras read customers banking PINs.

Most of the machines affected were in Quebec.

Gauthier said the operation had been in effect since 2008 and had been installed on more than 200 machines, taking in more than $1 million.

Then the banking information was sent to various countries where counterfeit banking cards were loaded with victims banking information, allowing the criminals abroad to pilfer funds from unsuspecting Canadians.

Gauthier said it can be hard for banks to catch people in the act, first because fraudsters act fast, and second because institutions dont usually check security tapes unless fraud is reported.

He suggested people using any kind of banking machine, whether at their own banking institution or elsewhere, should cover the keypad with their hand while entering their PIN.

He said it was also wise to change PINs frequently.