Fraudsters use Tube machines to clone bank cards

Tube commuters are having their bank cards cloned in a massive new wave of attacks by identity thieves.

Fraudsters are targeting Oyster card and ticket machines in London Underground stations after a police crackdown on similar attacks at cashpoints.

Gangs of thieves have fitted more than 50 so-called "skimming" devices which copy the user's card details and pin number as they buy Tube tickets or top up their Oyster cards.

They are understood to have switched to Underground ticket machines after successful campaigns to highlight the problem of skimming machines at cashpoints.

So far, 58 machines across the network have been targeted and 27 skimming devices have been discovered - with the Piccadilly and District lines particularly affected.

Latest figures show card cloning has leapt in the first half of this year, costing banks million of pounds in stolen money.

British Transport Police have now sent a series of emails to London Underground staff warning them to be alert to any suspicious behaviour, while Transport for London has also launched an investigation.

A recent email sent to London Underground staff from a duty station manager at Gloucester Road said: "Please be aware of the need to remain vigilant around your POMs (Passenger Operated Machines). The two-part device fits exactly over the existing one, with the camera stuck above with a small hole in the plate (the mobile phone part)."

The email goes on to warn staff not to try tackling possible fraudsters on their own.

It said: "The BTP have asked you to call them if you notice anything suspicious. DO NOT approach any individuals standing in the location."

One staff member who has been warned about the threat of fraud to customers said the stations had been visited by BTP officers who had said that every station on the western District line had been attacked.

He also said the problem was affecting larger multi-fare machines, which take notes and bank cards, as well as "queue buster" machines which accept cards only.

He said: "It's not a problem that London Underground want to advertise as they're trying to get rid of ticket offices, but they seem to be the only place to top up your Oyster card or buy a season ticket safely.

Two people have been arrested after they were caught using a skimming device on the Piccadilly line.

Police identified their address and a "factory" was raided last month, where police found skimming machines and card reading equipment.

BTP Superintendent Paul Shrubsole said: "Our specialist credit card fraud investigation team is working closely with London Underground staff to remove these devices and find the offenders benefiting from them.

"Because the fraudsters move the devices between stations and lines to avoid being detected we make maximum use of CCTV footage. The images go to other law enforcement agencies and the keypad devices are analysed for fingerprints and DNA.

"We're also working on machine design features preventing the attachment of skimming devices."

TfL said it was investigating the incidents in a bid to stamp out the attacks. A spokesman said: "The devices are quite sophisticated but we
need to look at the figures in context. There have been 58 attacks but we take payments of £40million a year.

"Card users should look carefully at the machines, be alert to anyone acting suspiciously and report anything unusual to staff."