Alberta man claims he was ‘skimmed’ during Marystown visit

BY PAUL HERRIDGE

The Southern Gazette

Dave Mandrusiak’s visit to Marystown this month was unforgettable, but unfortunately not for the right reasons.

The Alberta resident indicated he was in the province with his wife to visit relatives and spent several days in Marystown.

The couple had brought cash along with them, and so he had used his debit card for the first time on the trip at three stores in the town.

A big surprise awaited him when he stopped at a gas station to use the store’s debit machine and get some gas before leaving the area the next day.

“When I went to withdraw the money, I got the message upon the screen that my card was temporarily suspended. I figured, ‘That’s kind of odd.’ So, I went and tried to pay for the fill-up with the card and it came up as invalid.”

After contacting his bank, Mr. Mandrusiak discovered his account had been ‘skimmed’ – three separate withdrawals had been made totalling more than $500 in just the matter of a few minutes – and a stop had been put on his card to protect him.

Luckily, his wife had her card with her and he still had a credit card, so they weren’t stuck for money, but he was upset nonetheless.

“I was a little irate.”

Debit card skimming is a form of fraud whereby an ATM vestibule or Interac machine is tampered with to supply personal information to criminals, who can then access an individual’s account to withdraw money.

For example, in one instance a keypad overlay can be placed on top of a debit machine’s legitimate buttons, allowing it to still function properly while information such as personal identification numbers are transmitted or stored.

Mr. Mandrusiak noted he felt something was wrong at one of the three locations he used his debit card.

“I can’t say for sure, for sure, but I definitely have my suspicions. In a way, maybe it was a little bit my fault, too, because the machine looked a little suspect to me.”

As the couple was leaving the area, he said he didn’t have time to contact police in the region, but said he filled out the paperwork to allow his bank, which he indicated had rectified the situation financially, to begin an investigation upon his return to Alberta.

“When I went to withdraw the money, I got the message upon the screen that my card was temporarily suspended. I figured, ‘That’s kind of odd.’ So, I went and tried to pay for the fill-up with the card and it came up as invalid.” - – Dave Mandrusiak

Mr. Mandrusiak acknowledged the experience left him questioning whether he would visit Marystown again.

“I’ve heard of it happening to other people and I’d go, ‘Thank God it hasn’t happened to me,’ but now it has.”

Better Business Bureau tips to avoid getting ‘skimmed’:

 - Keep your PIN in a safe place. Bank and law enforcement officials will never ask you for your PIN, so do not reveal it to anyone.

 - Don’t let your credit leave your sight. For example, waiter staff in restaurants often offer to take your card to process payment. Rather than allowing them to walk away and leave your field of vision with your card, follow them to the area where the point of sales system is located and stay there until the transaction is completed.

 - Carefully examine an ATM before you use it, especially if it is a stand-alone or mini ATM. If you detect something suspicious, such as a discolored card reader or an unresponsive keypad, use another ATM. Also, report your suspicions to the bank or owner listed on the ATM.

 - Be wary of nearby strangers or ‘good Samaritans’ who offer to ‘assist’ you if you are having trouble with a particular ATM. The person could be a participant in the crime.

 - If an ATM does not return your card, contact your bank immediately and place a stop on the account. If the fault is a legitimate machine error, your bank will work with the ATM’s owner to retrieve your card or issue you another card with a new account number.

 - Check your bank statement regularly – if possible, even daily. The sooner you spot and report suspicious account activity, the better.

 - If you suspect someone has illegally used your ATM or debit card, call the card issuer immediately. You also may want to follow up your phone call with a letter.