Debit cards compromised

Photo: CTV

More than 1,000 Lower Mainland residents have had their debit cards compromised in a security breach stemming from a card-skimming scheme.

“We found ... from Central One, our card provider, that two Vancouver-area retailers have had their card machines compromised as a result of a skimming operation,” Vancity credit union spokesperson Darwin Sauer told CTV.

Other credit unions and banks were also affected, Vancity says.

The accounts were compromised using manipulated or swapped-out Interac terminals to obtain the card-holders' PIN numbers.

“This could mean any customer who used those card machines or had their card go through those machines could have had their card compromised,” Sauer said.

Vancity says 1,200 customers used their debit cards at the locations, which have not been named. So far, only two have notified the credit union about questionable transactions.

As a precaution, Vancity has contacted all the customers and placed limits on transactions until they can get new  cards.

“Most financial institutions, we're assuming, do what we've done today, which is put limits on the cards and also notify members immediately,” Sauer said.

– with files from CTV Vancouver