Banks force retailers to pay for card scam

Hampshire police claim fraudsters have netted more than £30,000 on their patch alone from a credit card scam which targets retailers of easily resold goods such as designer sunglasses.

The Association for Independent Optometry has warned its members to be aware of the scam (see Letters 19.06.09) after it discovered members as far afield as Yorkshire and Hampshire had been victims.

The AIO has since used its email group to make its members aware. The scam is unusual in that it targets the retailer who is tricked into making a 'customer not present' transaction. The bank is then entitled to take the money from the retailer's account and the retailer may not find out for four months that they have been scammed.