Businesses warned after credit card frauds

ACT Policing is warning businesses to be vigilant when processing credit card transactions after four potentially related fraud incidents late last week.

One of the incidents occurred at a Gungahlin retail outlet, another at the Tuggeranong Hyperdome, a third at a Fyshwick retailer and another at a store in Westfield Belconnen.

In the Gungahlin incident, a man used a fraudulent card to purchase in excess of $1750 worth of property from separate retail stores between 11.30am and 11.45am on Thursday, June 11. After the man attempted to use the card a third time, he was challenged by staff and left the store, leaving the card behind.

Similar incidents occurred at a large retailer in Tuggeranong on Thursday (June 11) and in Fyshwick on Friday (June 12).

Each time the offenders had sought to purchase consumer goods such as laptops, mobile phones and MP3 players, and their transactions had been electronically declined.

The offender in the Gungahlin incident is described as being of Asian appearance, with black hair and a long side fringe over the right side of his forehead. At the time of the incidents he was wearing jeans, sneakers, a light coloured shirt, a black jacket, a scarf and black eyeliner.

In the Fyshwick incident which occurred around noon on Friday (June 12), the offender produced three credit cards in an attempt to purchase a laptop valued at $2079. All three cards were electronically declined. The offender then left the store. He is described as being of Asian appearance, aged in his early 30s, of short stature, thin build, and with short black hair.

In a separate incident, a 28-year-old male Malaysian national appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court today (June 15) charged with using a false document and attempting to obtain goods by deception after attempting to use a fraudulent credit card to buy a laptop computer in Belconnen on Friday, June 12. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a three-month good behaviour bond on each count.

ACT Policing’s Crime Prevention Superintendent Kate Buggy says credit cards are made with identifying features, designed to reduce the possibility of fraudulent cards being used.

“All business owners and employees should familiarise themselves with these features to reduce the risk of fraud. Employees should also ensure that they switch off their EFTPOS machine at night, check card signatures closely, check that the card numbers on the front and back match and make sure holograms are clearly visible,” Supt Buggy said.

Employees should also check for a valid expiry date, ghosting or shading used to cover-up changed numbers, and ask for further identification if not sure. Recording the details of any supplementary ID produced (such as a driver’s licence) would assist any subsequent police investigation.

Businesses looking for more information can access the AFP website at www.afp.gov.au and follow the ACT Policing link to the ‘for ACT businesses page’. ACT Policing also has a Business Liaison Officer working within the Crime Prevention portfolio who can further assist. The officer can be contacted via the ACT Policing switchboard on 6256 7777.