March 7, 2007

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  NEWS: 90 Affected in British Gas Station Scam

  At least ninety people have fallen victim to bank account theft following the tampering with of the "chip and PIN" debit card readers at a BP gas station in the Redhill neighborhood of Surrey, England. The incident is believed to be linked to an international crime ring that has been committing like acts throughout Europe.
  
  The "chip and PIN" system is still young in England, where it replaced the more standard PIN-alone systems that Americans are familiar with. Following myriad consumer complaints of unauthorized debits coming from their bank accounts, Surrey police looked into the matter, and discovered the staggering number of those affected. The debits, which tend to be individually small (to hopefully escape recognition, as a tactic by the thieves) collectively, add up to the hundreds of pounds. The debits are coming from locales as diverse and as far away as Malaysia, Portugal, Israel, and Canada. Police also said that the episodes have dated back to at least November.
  
  Police have arrested two in connection with a similar scheme that occurred at a Shell station in nearby Leatherhead, but declined to comment as to whether they believed the two incidents were connected. The crime reportedly has locals foreswearing the chip and PIN system, insisting that they will only carry cash from now on.
   
  
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