MOTORISTS are being urged to check their bank or credit card statements after police investigating a card cloning scam raided a Bournemouth filling station.
Officers swooped on the Texaco Malthurst West View Service Station in Charminster Road just after 9 am yesterday.
They shut the garage to members of the public while they searched the garage for evidence. The premises remained closed and deserted yesterday afternoon.
Dorset Police say they have so far received more than 25 calls from worried members of the public alleging bank card fraud.
Among those affected was United Taxis driver Simon Mowels. "My business partner phoned me on Sunday to say he'd had a call from Abbey National's security centre," he said.
"When I checked online I found there had been three transactions, but they weren't huge.
"The bank has been very good. As far as we're concerned, it's only about £100 and we'll get it back."
Another person affected was Daily Echo feature writer Gavin Haines, who was alerted by his bank after money was withdrawn from his account in Madras, India, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
"I can't afford to lose £400 on a weekend. It was my only bank account at the time and they didn't have access to money. I've now got to go through the claims process," he said.
Last year, police received more than 200 similar complaints about the Murco service station in Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth. Three men were arrested but were later released without charge. The garage is under new management.
Card-cloning, sometimes known as skimming, involves retrieving card details and pins (personal identification numbers) to withdraw money fraudulently from people's bank accounts.
In spring last year, thousands of motorists were hit in a skimming scam involving garages across England. The Sri Lankan government claimed the money was being used to fund Tamil terrorist activity on the island.
The latest allegations in Bournemouth are being investigated by officers of the cheque and card unit of Dorset Police's economic crime unit.
They are warning members of the public to make sure they are not being watched when putting in their pin. People are advised to move mobile pin machines if they feel they are being watched, and to always hide the key pad with their hand when entering the number.
Anyone who feels their card has been compromised is urged to report it immediately to their bank and to the police on 01202 222 222.
Two Bournemouth men, one in his 20s and another in his 40s, are helping police with their inquiries after being arrested on suspicion of conspiring to defraud the banking industry.
By Joanna Codd
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