Police warn barstaff of credit card fraud in run up to Christmas

Organised criminals have stepped up their efforts to force pub staff to "clone" customers' credit cards in the run-up to Christmas.

In the busiest trading period of the year, police and banks are expecting fraudsters to increase the use of bribes and threats to gain the co-operation of pub and restaurant staff.

Crowded bars are at risk because this makes it easier to skim cards for later cloning and use counterfeit cards when busy staff may be less vigilant.

Detective chief inspector Tony Drain, head of the Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, said: "Christmas is a busy time for everyone and plastic card criminals use this to their advantage. Staff are incredibly important in the fight against card fraud because by increasing their vigilance they can play a major part in preventing these criminals from operating."

New figures show credit and debit card fraud is now costing the UK £430m a year.

Related articles:​

Campaign aimed at licensees and barstaff targets credit card crimes (22 May 2002)

Pub staff targeted in credit card 'cloning' (9 May 2002)