A sick shopper fainted - the cashier memorised her Pin, grabbed Eftpos card and went on $8500 shopping spree

A cashier went on a $8500 shopping spree with a woman's stolen card.

A woman who fainted while shopping became the victim of a cashier who stole her card, memorised her Pin and spent $8500 while her victim recovered in hospital.

The Financial Ombudsman is warning people to always protect their personal identification number (Pin) after the unwitting victim was only able to get half of the stolen money back.

In a decision released by the Financial Services Complaints Ltd the woman was overseas last December and had been buying medicine when she fainted moments after entering her Pin number in an Eftpos machine.

The woman said there was a large clear shield between her and the cashier, and the Eftpos machine was attached to the desk on the other side of the shield.

The only option she had was to extend her arm, key in her Pin, and remove her card.

The cashier, sensing the opportunity, memorised her Pin and pocketed the card while the woman was rushed to hospital.

When she returned to New Zealand, she noticed her credit card was missing and discovered $8500 had been spent by the cashier.

She reported the theft to police, cancelled her card and reported the fraudulent transactions to the credit card issuer.

But her card issuer declined her refund as she had breached the account terms and conditions by not covering her Pin, making her liable for fraud.

The woman then took her case to Financial Services Complaints Limited (FSCL), a Financial Ombudsman Service.

Financial Ombudsman Susan Taylor said protecting your Pin was vital but life was not always predictable.

The investigation into the victim’s claim found the Eftpos machine was bolted behind a plastic shield and her medical event left her vulnerable.

“When making purchases, always shield your Pin at payment terminals,” Taylor said.

“If someone gains access to your card and Pin, and you’ve failed to protect your Pin, you’re unlikely to be protected from financial loss.”

Taylor said fraudsters will always pounce on opportunities and everyday mistakes can become costly.

She urged consumers to check accounts regularly to spot any unusual activity and consider limiting the funds linked to Eftpos accounts, keeping in mind some cards can be linked to multiple accounts.

“Credit card providers should also act with empathy, especially when circumstances are beyond a consumer’s control.”

Taylor said FSCL worked with the card issuer to get the victim a refund of half the debt owed without any fees or interest.