(Gravenhurst, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Bracebridge detachment has seized a fraudulent debit machine personal identification number (PIN) pad from a local Gravenhurst business that was switched by unknown suspects.
On November 2, 2013 at approximately 8:30 am two male parties disguised as customers distracted the employee and switched the PIN pad portion of the debit machine with a tampered PIN pad. The tampered PIN pad was designed to store financial information for criminal motivations.
The employee noticed the switch after the suspects left and called police. There were no customers victimized in this incident.
Prevention Tips for Businesses:
Know where all your PIN pads are at all times.
Keep terminals out of sight when not in use and lock them up at closing.
Check all point-of-sale terminals and PIN pads regularly for signs of tampering.
Check identification of terminal service personnel.
Beware of scammers pretending to be customers trying to distract employees when using the PIN pad.
How to identify a compromised PIN pad:
Tampered security seals.
Someone has moved the PIN pad without your employee’s knowledge.
Cracked plastic casing on the PIN pad.
Screws are missing from the machine.
If altered PIN pad was discovered:
It’s a crime scene; don’t allow anyone to disturb or touch it. Call the police.
Remove the PIN pad to a secure area.
Do not open up the PIN pad because valuable forensic evidence could potentially be inside.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (705) 645-2211. The public is also urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-8477. You can submit your information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com if you have any information on this crime or any other crime. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display and you will remain anonymous. Being anonymous, you will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.