I’ve just receive a message outlining a new scam aimed at businesses using card machines that customers have access to.
A number of local dental surgeries are report theft via their card machines.
A customer walks in to register or buy stock ( we sell a lot of oral hygiene products) while paying by card they cancel the payment then use the refund system to steal from the practice. Most card machines are pin protected but older machines may not have this facility.
If you are a business owner check your refund process via card payments to make sure you have a pin set up or make sure you don’t allow the customer to handle the machine remotely.
Two local dental practices have lost £9k and £19k respectively in the last few days.
It may be that they are currently targeting dentists because receptions are often very busy and the staff may be dealing with several patients at a time so distracted while they are processing payments.
Any small business is vulnerable because they process payments and refunds through one machine. If you haven’t got a pin protected refund system on your card machine contact your provider to update your machine.