DCPCU arrest 3rd suspect in Chip and Pin Case

The Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit have arrested the man they believe to be the brains behind the Chip and Pin scam reported last week.

Last week two men were arrested as part of an investigation into tampered chip and pin terminals. It is believed that criminals have uncovered a way to steal card transaction data as well as the card PIN from the machine. Miniature devices capable of recording and transmitting customer PIN codes remotely to fraudsters. Approximately 30 of the devices have been found and had been sent to forensics for analysis. The news is a blow to the card industry, as chip and pin has been hailed as the safest form of card payment.

A third man was arrested late Friday afternoon, and is believed to have helped engineer the devices. Police hope that he can provide information which will help them determine the size of the risk to retailers, banks and the cardholders themselves.

The head of DCPCU Detective Chief Inspector John Folan, commented: “We are sending a very clear warning to fraudsters these crimes will not be tolerated, and that we will continue to target them and disrupt their fraudulent activity”

Cardholders that have had their details stolen will be protected under the Banking Code, which means that despite the inconvenience, they will not suffer any financial loss.