Card scam hits Kiwi tourists

New Zealanders have been caught out in an American-based scam after some banks confirmed cases where credit card details may have been compromised.

ASB and Kiwibank have started advising several customers to check transaction details and to change their credit card number.

"A number of people who used credit cards in the USA through the middle of 2008 may have potentially been exposed to an information compromise," said Rob Campbell, head of cards at ASB.

Similarly, BNZ head of fraud and security Mike Byrne said the bank had experienced an increase in attempted counterfeit credit card transactions. "More recently it has spread to cards used by travellers in the US."

Kiwibank communications manager Bruce Thompson said he believed the issue affected all major New Zealand banks.

"We have a list of about 40 customers who may have been affected and we are dealing directly with them. We check all transactions to see if there are any that are untoward or unauthorised."

Thompson said Mastercard had advised them of the situation.