Wallasey residents hit by card cloning scam as Merseyside Police focus on Leasowe Road service station

Mar 4 2009 by Kevin Core, Wallasey News

POLICE are investigating after more than one hundred Wallasey residents became victims of a credit card cloning scam.

Banks have been scrambling to contact customers in the area after they experienced account withdrawals in Canada and India ranging from just pounds to thousands.

Merseyside Police were investigating on Monday at Leasowe Road’s Murco Service Station.

There is no evidence of the involvement of staff or those at the garage.

Hospital worker Rachael Ford, 26, said: “We didn't notice a problem until Saturday morning when I had a message to call my bank.

“The lady from First Direct answered and asked are you in India?'.

“When I said no, she went through my transactions and three of them had been in India – she stopped the card and said £80 had gone, but it can be refunded.

“I then found out that the same thing had happened to my mum and my neighbour had lost money in Canada.”

After posting a warning on Facebook Rachael received messages from several Wallasey residents who had the same experience.

Groups warning about the problem have also been set up on the site and employers have issued warnings in the area.

Past examples of card skimming have seen a feed line used to take information from the chip and pin or cashpoint reader, in conjunction with a camera to note the pin number.

Manager Pragash Sivalingam confirmed members of the public had been in contact with complaints, but said he knew nothing about a scam.

He said: “We have been local for 15 years and have never had any problems.

Merseyside Police confirmed incidents appear to be linked to a premises in Wirral and that an investigation was taking place in partnership with the finance industry.

Detective Inspector Colin Radcliffe said: "I would urge people who suspect their card details may have been compromised to report such incidents to their banks and building societies who will start investigations and will report the matter to the police through agreed processes."