McDonald's card skim 'netted $5 million'

23 Dec 2009, 8:16 am   -   Source: AAP
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Up to $5 million is alleged to have been stolen in the card skimming operation (AAP)

Up to $5 million is alleged to have been stolen in the card skimming operation (AAP)

Two men have been charged over stealing up to $5 million in what police say is Australia's biggest-ever single card skimming operation.

 

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Two men are being sent from Sydney to Perth to face charges in connection to stealing up to $5 million from about 4,000 customers at fast food outlets in what police say is Australia's biggest-ever single card skimming operation.

A 36-year-old British man, who faced court in Sydney yesterday, is due to arrive in Perth today, while a 31-year-old Canadian man will appear in Parramatta Court today to be extradited tomorrow.

West Australian police say they have been charged with conspiracy to defraud.

It's alleged they swapped real EFTPOS keypads for skimming keypads at more than 20 McDonalds restaurant drive-throughs in Western Australia in September.

International syndicate

WA Major Fraud Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Don Heise said the men are accused of being part of an international crime syndicate that had defrauded  about 4,000 WA people.

He told reporters it was the "largest skimming crime to have happened in Australia".

It is alleged that during September the men attended more than 20 McDonald's restaurants in the Perth metropolitan area and while going through the drive-through swapped the pin keypad on the EFTPOS machines.

Police allege that after installing their own keypad, the men gathered credit and debit card information from McDonald's customers through Bluetooth file sharing technology.

During October, more than $4 million was stolen from bank accounts, using automatic teller machines (ATMs) in NSW, Victoria, Canada, Great Britain, the USA, India and Malaysia.

Keypads swapped

Det Sen Sgt Heise said WA McDonald's outlets were targeted because of the type of pin keypad used.

"We can categorically say that on this occasion Western Australia was definitely targeted and their stores were targeted," Det Sen Sgt Heise said.

"We know their travel movements, where and when they've been to WA, but we can't say right now."

He said conspiracy to defraud carried a maximum penalty of three-and-a-half years jail, but police expect to lay further charges, including Commonwealth charges.

Police urged credit and debit card holders to change their pin number regularly to avoid theft.
   
 

 


 

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