To help combat cash machine crime LINK, the UK's cash machine network, has today announced a partnership with independent charity Crimestoppers to offer rewards for information relating to cash machine crime. Working closely with different police agencies and departments, including the DCPCU, a banking industry-sponsored special police unit, the partnership aims to support the police in their fight against crime and help inform the public about how they can protect themselves.
LINK is offering rewards of up to £25,000 for information related to cash machine crime, and members of the public are urged to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete an online form via www.crimestoppers-uk.org. All information is treated anonymously and no personal information is taken.
Graham Mott, senior LINK spokesman commented: "We're urging the public to pass on information they may have about cash machine crime, for example physical attacks on cash machines themselves or card skimming. Even something that may seem insignificant could be part of a bigger picture and prove invaluable in convicting someone involved in cash machine crime."
DCI John Folan, head of the DCPCU and a serving City of London police officer said: "Tackling cash machine fraud is a continuing priority for the DCPCU, and a joined-up initiative of this nature has our full support. Any relevant information passed through to Crimestoppers will be used to help track down and arrest those responsible - which will not only disrupt criminal activity but also send out a clear message that we are cracking down hard on those carrying out crimes of this nature."
Cash machines are generally very safe to use however LINK has put together a guide on what to look out for when using any cash machine.
Official figures show that the number of attacks on UK cash machines rose by 17% from 2007 to 2008, to 635 separate attacks. In addition fraud via cash machines, mostly card skimming*, cost the industry £37 million in 2007.
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Media Enquiries:
For more information please contact Victoria McGovern / Karen Cooper at the LINK Press Office.
Email: victoria.mcgovern@thejjgroup.com / karen.cooper@thejjgroup.com
Mobile: Victoria, 07971 293 594
Notes to Editors
* Source: Payments Council report on UK consumer payments, 2008
About LINK
LINK connects almost every cash machine in the UK, both free-to-use and pay-to-use. The LINK network is the busiest ATM transaction switch in the world. The LINK Scheme brings together the banks, building societies and other institutions that issue cards and the operators of the 64,000 UK cash machines that make up the LINK network.
The LINK network processes around 250 million transactions a month and, at its busiest, it processes over one million transactions an hour. The LINK network has 46 members and there are more than 130 million LINK cards in circulation from 36 card issuers.
About DCPCU
The DCPCU is fully sponsored by the banking industry through APACS the UK payments association, and has an ongoing brief to help stamp out organised card and cheque fraud across the UK. It is a unique body that comprises officers from the Metropolitan and City of London police forces who work alongside banking industry fraud investigators. Since its inception in April 2002, the DCPCU has been responsible for more than £230 million in savings from reduced fraud activity and has recovered more than 244,000 counterfeit cards and card numbers.
About Crimestoppers