Card-cloning investigation at petrol station
8:00am Tue 1st Jan 08:: written by Gareth McPherson
A petrol station in Maidenhead is being investigated by police dealing with complaints of card-cloning.
Officers are looking into operations at the Texaco garage in Bridge Road after receiving two complaints of card fraud related to the garage. The complaints, made on December 17 and 20, came to light after worried readers contacted the Advertiser to highlight concerns about scammers targeting the town.
Unsuspecting victims had been contacted by their banks and told that card details had been cloned and cash siphoned from accounts in far-flung locations including the Philippines. It is unclear where or when details of other cards were duplicated.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "We are currently investigating two cases of fraud by false representation involving debit and credit cards at the garage."
A spokesman for Somerfield, which owns the garage, said the firm was looking into a couple of complaints relating to cash cards used by shoppers in the store.
He issued an apology and said: "Our security teams have visited the store and established that these were isolated incidents and that there is no risk to other customers."
"We are working with police and examining CCTV footage and store equipment to establish what happened and what evidence we have to secure a prosecution."
Anyone with information can call Thames Valley Police on 0845 8505505.
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- I'm glad something is being done about this! I believe my card details were taken by the garage and nearly wrecked my Christmas as I didn't receive my new bank cards until Christmas Eve! I pray the Police manage to get enough information to secure that prosecution!
- There must be HUNDREDS of people affected by this fraud. We had FOUR cards cloned in our household, and know of at least two others in our road alone. I really do hope they catch those responsible.
- My husbands card got cloned a week before xmas and was used in Australia, luckily it failed and they didnt get any money! We never use the texaco but we did a week before this incident!
- For the Somerfield spokesman to claim the two incidents are isolated is rubbish. I have had my Amex card cloned and I know of seven other people who have had their credit or debit cards cloned and in one case both debit and credit cards were cloned. The common denominator in all these cases is the Somerfield Texaco garage at Maidenhead bridge. I advise all readers not to use cards at this location until Somerfield can assure us the location is secure again.
- I can't believe they are saying there are only 2 complaints, I know of at least 10 people who have been affected and the majority of them have contacted the police. When we contacted the police they said it was up to the banks to investigate.
- I also have had my debit card cloned just before Christmas and have just contacted the police and they said that its up to the bank to investigate it. Its a shame we all can't get together and review our bank statements to see what is the common denominater as it sounds like there a number of people that were hit and nothing else will be done about it. I live very close to Somerfield as well and use it regularly.
- We believe our Card to have been Cloned by the Shell Petrol Station on Bath Road Taplow, 17th December, so not only Texaco ?
- In mid Dec had a total of £500 withdrawn in India in 3 transactions on a joint bank account with a card that is rarely used anyway but Waitrose. However, a few days before it was used in the Texaco @ M/Head bridge.
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