Cash Point Alert

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Permalink Reply by John D on June 27, 2014 at 17:38

There have been many instances of trouble at that ATM - mainly with people using distracting techniques to steal cards. They seem to lurk at the bus shelter until a vulnerable person uses the machine.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Craine on July 4, 2014 at 11:11

I was once distracted at that ATM by being told I had dropped a £20 note on the ground. Since I knew I had one in my wallet I perhaps foolishly bent down to pick it up. Then I realised my card had been taken. I swung into action and shouted loudly. On the corner were some "good samaritans" who had surrounded the alleged miscreant. One of them handed me a card and asked if it was mine. It was. He wanted me to try it in the machine to see if it worked. I declined. He kept following me up the road  till I firmly told him to get lost.

A really bizarre incident. The "good guys" must surely have been in league with the bad guy and I was causing a stir. But I had no idea who had done it. I guess they'd failed to read the card properly and needed me to insert it again.

BUT I got to keep the £20 note which was additional to the one already in my wallet. And it wasn't a forgery. In the end a profitable transaction!

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on July 4, 2014 at 11:54

SOME years ago I was walking on a wide pavement in Kiev. Suddenly, someone stopped abruptly in front of me, causing me to break stride.

The guy had picked up, or pretended to pick up, something up from the pavement. He first spoke in Russian or Ukrainian then quickly switched to English. He then went out of his way to show me what he had: a wallet, with perhaps US$400 in it, in $100 bills. I suggested he hand it in to the police but he was keen to share it with me!

This seemed pretty odd and I went on my way, turning a corner.

A few moments later, this big guy and another big bloke caught up with me. The second accused me of taking his wallet. I had no choice but to finger the first guy. Since I hadn't "shared" any contents I left the scene. I had expected them to be shouting and arguing as I left, but no. They were in league of course.

I later learnt that this is a known scam in Kiev.

Had I been unwise enough to share the cash, the same scenario would have played out, but the second person would have claimed I hadn't handed back all of my share and would have insisted that I hand over either cash or valuables in lieu. That was the point of the scam.

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