Codiac RCMP investigate 36 bank card fraud cases

Codiac RCMP are investigating at least 36 cases of bank card fraud in the Moncton area in which people lost money from their accounts.

Victims have reported unauthorized transactions in their accounts sometimes totalling in the thousands of dollars, RCMP spokesperson Const. Damien Thriault said in a release.

People should verify their accounts and report any suspicious transactions to their financial institution, he said.

"If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to your local police force," Thriault said.

He said people using their debit card should be careful, and observe these safety tips:

• Always conduct ABM transactions when and where you feel most secure. If you are uncomfortable about using the machine for any reason, do it later or go to another location. If anything seems unusual about the ABM or point of sale terminal, don't use it report the situation to police, the merchant or your financial institution.
• Regularly review transaction history online or your monthly bank statements and report anything unusual to your financial institution immediately.
• Protect your PIN it's your electronic signature. Don't write it down, memorize it, andchange it periodically.