Hundreds of
Chip and Pin terminals in shops and supermarkets across Europe
are believed to contain rogue chips that can transmit customers'
card details.
US national counter-intelligence executive Joel Brenner told
newspapers last weekend that international crime gangs could have
tampered with
Chip and Pin terminals during the manufacturing process in
China.
It is believed an extra chip fixed to the back of the
motherboard during manufacturing could have been responsible for
millions of pounds being taken from European customers'
accounts.
Customer card details, along with Pins, are said to have been
copied over the last nine months and transmitted via mobile phone
networks to fraudsters in Pakistan.
There are fears that money generated could have found its way to
terrorists.
Asda and Sainsbury's are among the supermarket chains said to
have been targeted by the fraudsters.
Brenner said "previously only a nation state's intelligence
service would have been capable of pulling off this type of
operation".
In 2006, police uncovered tampered Chip and Pin terminals in
petrol stations.