UP to 50 people in Newtownbutler have been targeted by bank card fraudsters, it has been claimed. 
Businessman Mickey McPhillips had his bank card skimmed in the last fortnight with over $700 taken from his account by fraudsters in Australia. 
“The Danske Bank immediately blocked the card when the suspicious activity was spotted early on. I was shocked to get the phone call from the bank asking me if I was in Australia and immediately authorised the bank to block all transactions on my account. 
“It really annoyed me not only to have money removed fraudulently from my account but also the inconvenience of having to contact all suppliers and change the card number on their accounts.”
Mr. McPhillips says up to 50 people have contacted him to report the same problem.
“I was shocked at the response and got dozens of messages from people who had gone through this for several months most centred in Newtownbutler. Most people have had all their monies reimbursed.
“I am asking ATM owners and banks to issue statements outlining what machines in Fermanagh have been compromised and what they are doing about it. It’s only now with the large number of customers speaking out that the problem has been uncovered. 
“Thousands of pounds are involved in these acts and currently it is Australia and Indonesia where the skimmed cards are being used,” he said. 
The Police Service of Northern Ireland was asked to comment on the issue but did not reply at the time of going to press.