A number of ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) located in some upscale areas of Lagos (such as Victoria Island, Lekki Peninsula Phase I and II and Ikoyi) have been attacked by hackers, according to a report by Punch.
The hackers operate by fixing skimming devices on the ATMs in order to collect the PINs and other details of cardholders who come to utilize the machines. Top bank officials who are aware of this development said a number of banks had deployed detectives to monitor their ATMs in those locations.
“Some of these fraudsters visit those ATMs very late in the night or very early in the morning to fix some fraud devices on them, which are capable of collecting cardholders’ information, including their passwords. They come back later to remove those devices. The information collected is then used to commit fraud against those customers later,” a banker told Punch.
“Most of us (banks) are aware of the development and we are very vigilant now. What some of us have done is to get a patrol team of security men to start combing the affected areas and the ATMs from time to time. We will get those guys soon.”
“While some of the cardholders’ information collected by the hackers were being used to commit online-related frauds in the country, a large number was used to clone ATM cards, which are used to shop in malls abroad, especially in the United States of America,” the banker went on to say.
The Vice-Chairman, Committee of e-Banking Industry Heads, Mr. Dele Adeyinka, confirmed the fraudsters’ activities. But the banks’ compliance with the CBN directive to install anti-skimming devices on their ATMs, would also make it difficult for the fraudsters’ devices to work.
He said, “Yes, it is true that hackers are carrying out those activities. It is not only in Victoria Island axis, they are doing it everywhere. But all the banks have complied with the CBN directive on anti-fraud tools. So, it will be difficult for those fraud devices to work.”
Photo Credit: Gullig via Compfight cc
