RBC-/RBTT bank advises only to withdraw cash or conduct other transactions

RBC Royal Bank reported on Monday that it does not have any incidents of tampering or skimming at any RBC/RBTT ATMs located in the Dutch Caribbean islands it serves (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba and St. Maarten). The statement from the bank did not indicate what had prompted the declaration.

As a precautionary note, the bank (formerly RBTT Bank) advises all RBC clients to use only RBC/RBTT ATMs to withdraw cash or conduct other transactions. “Please note that RBC recently re-branded operations in the Dutch Caribbean islands, during the past two weeks, and as a result some RBC ATMs still have the RBTT logo on them,” an RBC press release read.

“We urge all our clients to check their statements carefully (via online Netbank) for possible inconsistencies, as some RBC Royal Bank clients who used specific ATMs belonging to other banks may have been exposed to and/or affected by skimming activities. In cases of confirmed fraud, our priority is to minimise the impact on our clients who have been victimised through no fault of their own. We will do whatever is needed to block unauthorised access to their funds with us.”

The bank did not indicate when the last reported incident of skimming via specific ATMs belonging to other banks had taken place. An e-mail inquiry seeking clarity went unanswered on Monday. “Preventing fraud is a mutual responsibility and our goal is to educate our clients to help them understand how they can protect themselves. Clients can protect themselves by being aware of their environment. If they feel uncomfortable for any reason, they should leave and not use the ATM. If they notice anything out of the ordinary, they should report the situation to the police or their branch,” the release concluded.

Source: “The Daily Herald” 2012-03-27