Winnipeg police urge pin safety after series of bank card thefts

Police are advising Winnipeggers to take extra caution with bank card pins as the city is seeing a string of robberies, that lead to unathorized bank withdrawals

It is believed the suspect(s) use a technique police call “shoulder surfing” to obtain the victim’s bank card pin, while they are at a retail store or ATM.

After the suspect sees the pin, they will steal the purse or wallet of the victim, the thieve(s) make their way to an ATM to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account until funds are depleted or the bank issues a potential fraud notice and freezes the card.

Police have noted in some incidents, if there are multiple bank cards within the victim’s stolen wallet/purse, the thieve(s) will also try and withdraw money from the other accounts, as it is common for people to use the same pin for multiple cards.

Police say the following measures are the best ways to help protect yourself from this kind of theft:

  • Make sure no one is standing nearby while using and entering your pin code,
  • Use your hand, wallet or body to shield as a shield while entering your PIN code,
  • Never leave your wallet or purse unattended, even for a short period of time,
  • Be wary of individuals who may engage with you while you are loading your purchases into your vehicle or leaving an ATM,
  • Immediately report any lost or stolen payment cards to your financial institution,
  • Review all transactions/statements to identify any fraudulent activity,
  • Use a unique PIN for each payment card,
  • If your cards have been lost or stolen, consider using a mobile banking app or online banking to lock your cards from potential fraudulent usage.

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