Moncton debit fraud complaints top 200

More than 200 people have now filed complaints about compromised debit cards with the Codiac RCMP.

Thats up from about 60 complaints as of last week.

Some of the unauthorized transactions totalled thousands of dollars.

The RCMP are still searching for five suspects in two separate investigations, said Const. Damien Thriault.

Meanwhile, police are warning people to keep an eye on their bank accounts.They shouldn't believe they are safe just because their bank card has a chip, Thriault said.

"If you do have a chip card, it is safer if you use the proper terminal. That means the terminal that is equipped to take the chip," he said.

"If you have to swipe your card, even if its equipped with a chip, it wont be protected."

Anyone who believes they have been caught up in the debit-card fraud are being advised to contact the police and their banks.

Police are looking forhelp identifying two suspectsin connection with the tampering of at least three debit machines in the greater Moncton area.

Investigators believe the suspects replaced the point-of-sale machines, making it possible for them to obtain banking information from all the cards swiped on that terminal.

The investigation so far has shown that the information stolen from the cards was used in a foreign country to obtain funds.

RCMP are also investigating thetheft of a debit machinefrom a Moncton convenience store last weekend, but its not believed to be related to a recent string of debit card fraud in the area.

Pictures of three suspects in that case have been released.