Hundreds of Bank of Ireland (BOI) customers have lost money in a skimming attack after ATMs were targeted by fraudsters over two weekends.
Fraudsters skimmed customer card details from ATMs in Borris and Graiguenamanagh and it is thought they also targeted ATMs in Roscommon and Mayo over the past few weeks.
Go deeper with GlobalData
A spokesperson for the bank said: "Following confirmed skimming attacks at our ATMs in Borris and Graiguenamanagh, Bank of Ireland wishes to reassure customers that it is our policy to fully refund any losses sustained as a result of this criminal activity.
"The bank is proactively contacting customers to confirm the fraud and issue replacement cards and will continue to closely monitor the situation, which is also under investigation by the gardaí.
"The bank may also cancel and reissue cards to customers to protect them from fraud if their card details are at risk."
The Garda (Irish police force) are investigating the scam, which has seen sums of 146.13 ($200) being taken from accounts over several days.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataAccording to the Irish media, these amounts showed up on account statements as $200 being withdrawn from ATMs in the US.
The BOI spokesperson said: "Bank of Ireland strongly advises customers to check bank statements regularly and to be vigilant when using their cards at retail outlets and at ATMs.
"Any such incident should be reported directly to the bank in question and the gardai immediately. www.safecard.ie offers a range of very appropriate advice for all card users that we recommend customers take time to read. "
Some local media reports suggested customer accounts were hacked, but BOI said this was incorrect.
Irish newspapers also said some customers had over 2,000 stolen.
A BOI spokesperson said: "The numbers involved were within what we would normally expect following such criminal activity."
Related articles:
HSBC Bank USA launches new security device to protect online banking transactions
Los Alamos National Bank selects ACH Alert fraud protection technology
Major banks’ mobile apps contain serious security flaws: IOActive research
