CRIME | BNU urges some clients to change debit card passwords

Some Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) customers have received a mobile phone message requesting them to change the passwords of their debit cards. BNU told the Times that this is only a precautious measure and is related to a previous crime case involving Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs).
In the message, BNU claimed that it has received the notice from a supervising institution regarding the investigation into some ATMs in Macau. The bank urged the customers who received this message to change the password of their debit cards in order to ensure the safety of their accounts.
It is believed that only those BNU customers who have used the affected ATMs will receive the SMS.
The Times has spoken to Ms Tang, a representative from BNU. She has confirmed that BNU has sent the message in relation to the recent crime case where criminals have allegedly uploaded computer virus to some ATMs in Macau.
Ms Tang stressed that the ATMs in question do not belong to BNU. However, she did not disclose how many customers have received this message.
The Times has also contacted the Monetary Authority of Macau for comment. However, there is no reply by press time.
The Judiciary Police has recently arrested two Ukrainian nationals who were alleged to have uploaded computer virus to at least three ATMs to steal card information.
PJ has already received the report from 24 people who claimed that money from their accounts was withdrawn in Thailand and Russia. The authorities have calls on cardholders to be vigilant to any suspicious transaction.