A NEW credit card "sting" costing Selby area cardholders thousands of pounds was uncovered at a local restaurant, it was revealed today.

Tadcaster-based fraud squad officers said a growing number of fraudsters were spending other people's money by using "skimming machines".

Unsuspecting customers, in places such as restaurants and garages, have their cards swiped for a second time through the machine, which is often no bigger than a cigarette packet, and the information downloaded to a computer.

Local fraud squad chief, Detective Sergeant Kevin Ross, said: "The fraudsters don't even bother to produce a fake card - they simply imprint the number on a piece of white plastic, which can then be used at selected outlets run by dishonest retailers and businesses.

"A whole network has been built up where these cards are used on a day-to-day basis, mainly in restaurants.

"It's also in restaurants and garages where the biggest volume of skimming goes on. For example, a rogue waiter will take your card away to settle the bill and when he brings it back, you don't know how many times it's been swiped."

Det Sgt Ross said the ruse came to light in the Selby area when people started noticing they had been charged for meals in restaurants they had never visited, including a plush restaurant in Paris.

He said: "When the CID investigated, the one common denominator was a restaurant near Selby where all the cardholders had eaten."

Fraud squad officers are also concerned about the manufacture of counterfeit credit cards, which they say has "taken off like a rocket".

Det Sgt Ross said most people associated credit card crime with their card being stolen and then used to buy goods by forging their signature.

But criminals were now using bogus cards to raid bank accounts.

He said: "Before last year we had not seen a counterfeit card - now we are seeing dozens. Thieves use devious methods to record genuine card numbers, and then transfer them to cards that look like the real thing.

"When the fake card is swiped, it doesn't register because there's no information on the magnetic strip.

"The retailer then keys in the number and, because it's genuine, the transaction can be authorised."

Det Sgt Ross added: "We urge people to be extra vigilant and to go through their credit card statements with a fine tooth comb."

Updated: 15:18 Wednesday, October 10, 2001