One day after reports of a massive ATM (automatic telling machine) scam was reported, some banks around the country were opened to facilitate customers who were affected. Scores of cardholders flocked to Scotiabank branches in Couva and Chaguanas, to receive replacement cards, after they were cancelled due to a suspicion that its security was compromised.
However, several people failed to make it before the banks' 1 pm closing time and were told that they would have to return tomorrow. Meanwhile, investigators said that after reviewing security footage from the affected banks, they were able to identify several persons who they suspected may have planted the cameras used to capture customers' information.
According to president of the Bankers Association Richard Young, the photos of these people will be placed in daily newspapers through Crime Stoppers. Young said he was hopeful that members of the public would come forward with information to help find these people. However, he said he was not able to divulge much information, as an investigation has been launched.
He said the incident was unfortunate but they were in the process of going through their analytical phase, to ensure it does not occur again. Young said, "We are in the process of changing cards, security measures are in place and we are now in the process of placing advertisements in the papers with photographs of people we would like to speak to. Some banks were open today (yesterday) and they were changing cards for affected customers and contacting other customers who were identified as victims of this fraud. It is very unfortunate and we believed that we are on top of it."
He said fraudulent activities such as this happen internationally and that criminals had stepped up and became more advanced. He said the priority was to now ensure that customers' hard-earned resources were safe and that they have pre-empted all the areas of weakness in their security systems.