Card made available to allow children to shop via the Internet

A new card has been launched that could allow children aged just thirteen to make purchases via the Internet. Kids will be able to shop online as well as make cash withdrawals on the debit style card. Read more

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People using same Pin are risking money

Around ten million people in the UK are putting their money at risk by using the same Pin number for their different credit and debit cards, according to new research.

The study conducted by Opinium Research found that almost a quarter of the 41 million adult cardholders in the UK choose one Pin number for their cards.

However, of those who had been more cautious, 11 million now only use one card because they cannot remember their different Pins.

Steve Willey, head of credit cards at price comparison site moneysupermarket.com, advised cardholders to be more careful, saying: “A little vigilance can go a long way. It certainly beats the trauma and trouble that can be caused by being far too lax with your cards.”

He also warned that people should be careful to keep sight of their cards when making a purchase, since criminals make billions of pounds each year from card cloning and skimming.

Younger cardholders in particular seem unaware of this, with 23 per cent of those aged 40 or under allowing their card to be taken where they cannot see it, compared to 13 per cent of older people.

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Double money for lucky bankers

A number of bank customers in Cambridgeshire were given quite a surprise when a cash machine began paying out double money.

Customers, who were merely doing their daily banking, were both surprised and delighted when they realised that they were being given twice the amount of cash that they were asking for.

Word soon spread and a huge queue formed outside the cash point, with everyone wanting to get a piece of the action.

The machine only handed out the wrong money for one hour and it is unclear how much was taken, but it is clear that the bank lost a substantial amount of money.

The error was down to a mistake made by one of the bank workers, who filled the £10-note dispenser with £20-notes.

Those who were lucky enough to get their hands on some free cash then got another surprise when the bank released a statement saying that they are allowed to keep the money.

“It was strange keying in an amount and finding you got double what you asked for,” one lucky banker told the Cambs Times.

“I’m amazed the bank has told me I can now keep the extra cash – there will be dozens of people celebrating their good fortune.”

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Credit card cloning warning

Credit card holders are being told to increase their vigilance and be on alert after a spate of card cloning incidents.

Police in Cheshire have sent a warning out to all card holders in the area after around £3,000 was taken from accounts over the new year period, reports the Chichetser Observer.

In total, officers say that ten people reported money missing from their accounts, all of whom had used the same cash point.

The investigation is now focussing on the HSBC machines located in a local supermarket.

A process known as skimming is believed to be what was used by criminals to obtain the account numbers, sort codes and pin numbers of unsuspecting victims.

This data is then transferred to another card and it can be used in exactly the same way.

Those who have already realised that money has gone from their account did so because they have checked their statements, however police fear the number of victims will escalate when others check their balance.

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