Lankans involved in UK credit card cloning

Hundreds of people living in and around Cuffley in the UK have had their credit cards cloned and used around the world.

Crooks have tried to access the victim's bank accounts from countries including Canada, USA, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Some 366 reports of cloning have been received by Herts police in recent weeks with the majority coming from Cuffley residents and the rest from those living nearby including Cheshunt, Waltham Cross and Goffs Oak.

Estate agent Pat Whittaker, of Goffs Oak, has had his card cloned twice within the last couple of months. He said: "Both times no money was taken as the banks spotted it. The main impact is the inconvenience. So many people must have been put out."

Most of the incidents have happened after the theft of a chip and pin machine from Cuffley Service Station, Station Road, at 7.50 p.m. on March 5. One man - thought to be of Sri Lankan ethnicity - snatched the device from the Gulf petrol station counter while a hooded man held the door open before both ran off on foot.

Hertfordshire Mercur