Skimming up

UK counterfeit card fraud rose 50 per cent to UK£138 million over the last 12 months according to APACS, the Association for Payment Clearing Services. Total card fraud on UK-issued cards grew by 32 per cent to UK£373.7 million in the year to August 2001. The card industry has now agreed to trial a national police card fraud squad which will focus on the organised crime groups behind the “skimming” - copying the magnetic strip on the card using a small reader and duplicating the data on to counterfeit cards. The squad, which is scheduled to start work on the two-year pilot in early 2002 , will be funded principally by APACS members – the UK’s major banks and building societies. Skimming is widespread in restaurants, petrol stations and shops. Last month saw the launch of the “Skimming Crackdown” programme, launched last month through Crime stoppers, the UK charity to which anonymous tip-offs about crime may be made by the public (freephone 0800 555 111). It offers a minimum reward of UK£500 for information that leads to a conviction for involvement in skimming.