ABU DHABI // Residents continued to visit ATMs in Khalidiyah yesterday despite a warning that thieves had "skimmed" debit card numbers and Pins from machines in the area.
Johan Valentine, an American, said he had heard the warnings but assumed the problem had been fixed. "If everybody knows about it, the camera must be gone," he said after using an ATM at Spinneys supermarket. "I figured it's probably OK."
The US Embassy sent an email to US citizens on Thursday alerting them of debit card fraud connected to ATMs in Khalidiyah, particularly in Spinneys and at Khalidiyah Mall.
Thieves mount devices called skimmers to the front of ATM slots, transmitting card information to nearby locations. They might also have used hidden cameras to capture Pins. They use the details to steal from customer accounts.
Yesterday, a US Embassy spokesman expanded on the alert, saying the embassy received a series of similar reports from Americans affected in the 10 days leading up to Christmas.
"The most important thing is to keep an eye on the account, check accounts regularly and then immediately contact your bank or institution," Robert Arbuckle said.
Mr Arbuckle would not disclose the number of people who reported problems, but said there had been a "rash of incidents".
The embassy passed the information on to local authorities, he said.
One victim of the scam said thousands of dollars had vanished from his bank account, spent at Abercrombie & Fitch, Nordstroms and other vendors in California.
The American, who spoke anonymously, said he had used the HSBC ATM machine at Spinneys in the week before Christmas. Two days later, he noticed he had $35 left in his account. He was reimbursed for the fraudulent charges, he said.
Abu Dhabi Police were not aware of the skimming cases, said Col Dr Rashid M Bursheed, head of the CID's organised crime unit.
HSBC spokesman Tim Harrison said yesterday that the bank had not received any reports of problems with the Spinneys ATM.
The bank issued a written statement yesterday, saying: "HSBC has been made aware that skimming has been reported within the UAE and takes this criminal activity very seriously."
The statement urged customers to shield the ATM number pad from view as they enter their Pin and avoid using ATMs if they see "suspicious individuals" nearby.
Staff at Khalidiyah Mall were also unaware of complaints.
"We personally went and checked," said Praveen CY, the assistant mall manager.
"We did not find anything in our ATMs," said Joseph Thomas, customer relationship manager for the mall's branch of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.
The email from the US Embassy recommended that debit card users avoid machines that appear altered, watching for raised keypads or glue around the keypad and card slots. Customers should also inspect the slot before inserting their card, checking if it is loose.
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
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Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
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Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
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Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
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To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
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- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
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Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
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In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
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