In this section you will find information about the various types of payment card fraud, as well as helpful advice and tips on how to minimise your chances of becoming a victim, and what to do if you become a victim. Being a victim of fraud is not only inconvenient, it can cause stress and worry, so taking measures to protect yourself is essential. Luckily, there are a few simple steps that you can take to make it much more unlikely that you will become a victim.

What is payment card fraud?

Payment card fraud occurs when plastic payment cards, such as ATM, debit and credit or store cards are used to take money without permission or prior knowledge from the bank, building society or credit card account. The methods in which payment card fraud can occur include online, over the telephone at an ATM and EFTPOS terminal and when using your mobile phone.

In New South Wales, two of the most common types of payment card fraud are card not present (CNP) and counterfeit/skimming.

Card not present fraud

CNP most commonly involves the theft of genuine card details that are then used to make purchases over the Internet, by phone or mail order. The genuine cardholder may not be aware of this fraud until they check their statement. The most common ways in which card details are stolen include spyware on your computer, unsolicited telephone calls and spam emails, known as “phishing”.

Phishing refers to emails that trick people into giving out their personal and banking information. These messages seem to come from legitimate businesses, normally banks or other financial institutions or telecommunication providers. The scammers are generally trying to get information like your bank account numbers, passwords and credit card numbers, which they will then use to steal your money.

Counterfeit/skimming

‘Skimming’ is a means of capturing the data stored on the magnetic stripe of your debit or credit card. A skimming attack occurs when an illegal magnetic stripe reader is placed over the card insert slot of an ATM or EFTPOS machine. Your PIN is then captured by a false keypad or via a tiny camera mounted on the ATM, EFTPOS terminal, or simply by someone standing near you.