ATM ‘pop-up’ scam latest for canny criminals

IT takes less than three minutes from first interaction to departure for fraudsters using a new scam to rip off visitors.

Teams of four operate together, hitting two to three unsuspecting customers before moving on to the next ATM‚ according to First National Bank fraud investigator Juan Abraham.

This ATM fraud‚ known as a “pop-up”, is on the rise in the Western Cape as fraudsters trick tourists into paying levies to enter spaces open to the public.

“Someone will stop you in the street and say‚ ‘Hey there is a film shoot going on down the street and you will need to get a permit in order to pass through. Let’s go to the ATM‚ where we can get you that permit’.

“Believe it or not, many tourists fall for that and end up going to the ATM, where their cards are swapped‚” Western Cape economic development partnership chief executive Andrew Boraine said.

Provincial Tourism MEC Alan Winde‚ along with a task force headed by Boraine‚ have begun a multi-pronged campaign to solve the ever-present and ever-changing ATM fraud issue.

“All of the role players – tourism‚ SAPS‚ hotels‚ etc . . . need to work together across our local front and with our visitors,” central city improvement district chief executive and task force member Tasso Evangelinos said.

“We are dealing with very sophisticated syndicates filled with well-dressed‚ well-spoken individuals; not your typical criminal.

“They change their modus operandi weekly‚ monthly‚ always keeping us guessing.”