There were 925 criminal reports involving bank cards in the city last year.
Victims suffered losses of more than 13 million yuan (US$1.68 million),
30 percent of which has been recovered by police. Officials said bank
card fraud cases are rising.
They also revealed that city police arrested a record number of foreign
suspects for bank card crime in 2006.
The Shanghai Public Security Bureau released the data yesterday when
officials conducted an online chat with residents over precautions to
take to avoid bank card crime.
During the Internet dialogue, officials responded to more than 40
inquiries. Police listed the five most common fraud ruses. They are:
Suspects install tiny video cameras on banks’ security doors or ATMs to
gain card and pin numbers.
Suspects set up fake online banks and send emails seeking card details.
Suspects block ATM slots. As victims believe their card is trapped,
theft is made easy.
Suspects send messages to cell phones advising owners that they have won
cash but need to deposit money in a designated account to cover tax and
procedure costs.
Suspects disguise themselves as employees of water, gas or telecom
companies, visit victims’ homes and demand their bank card information.
