Police warn of spike in EFTPOS machines stolen in Melbourne’s west
EFTPOS machines are being stolen from small businesses across Melbourne’s west and being used to snag tens of thousands of dollars of fraudulent refunds. But police say there’s an easy way to stop it from happening.
North West
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Tens of thousands of dollars have been taken from small businesses in Melbourne’s west by young crooks making fraudulent refunds into their own bank accounts from stolen EFTPOS machines.
Since February there has been a spike in EFTPOS machines being stolen from small businesses such as pizza and takeaway shops, clothing stores, milk bars and independent grocers in Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham.
Police said eight had been taken in the past two months.
Footscray Acting Sergeant Glen Jones said a group of two or three offenders, described as young men of African appearance, would enter stores where portable EFTPOS machines were located on the checkout counter.
They wait until staff are distracted, or one of the men lures staff to another part of the store, before the others grab the machine and run off, leaving behind the connecting wires.
They then use the device to transfer false refunds into their own bank accounts with PIN numbers commonly taped to the top or side of the machines.
The largest transaction that can be fraudulently put through is $5000.
Sgt Jones said the men were making multiple transactions per machine, all at more than $1000, before businesses had been able to cancel SIM cards and report the thefts.
While he couldn’t say how much in total had been stolen so far, but that it was in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Sgt Jones said EFTPOS machines were not usually a common item stolen by criminals.
“Considering there were none in the two months before February it is a troubling increase,” he said.
“Creating false refunds, it’s not a knowledge that a lot of offenders would have.
“But if you do have it, and you do know to do it, you can issue yourself a refund into your bank account of up to $5000.”
Police are still investigating the thefts, but Sgt Jones said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if they were all connected.
He urged business owners to secure EFTPOS machines and keep them out of sight.
“The main thing is not having a PIN number on it, so even if they get it, they can’t issue the refund,” Sgt Jones said.
“If the staff are not able to be distracted or the machine’s chained or connected so it can’t be taken they’ll just go to another store.”
If a machine is stolen, owners should cancel the SIM card in the device straightaway to prevent any transactions.
Anyone with information about the thefts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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