Beware of bogus cash points (From Gazette Series)

Beware of bogus cash points

SHOPPERS in the county are being warned this week to take extra care when withdrawing money from cash machines at supermarkets.

The warning comes after a number of cashpoints were hit by "clever" thieves using skimming machines to record card details and take money from people's accounts.

Criminals have faked the appearance of cash machines to fool shoppers into thinking they are real. Unsuspecting people then put their card into he fraudulent fronts, mounted on normal cash machines, and have their card details copied right under their noses.

Victims have already had sums of between £300 and £1,000 stolen.

Paul Francis, crime reduction officer at Gloucestershire Constabulary, said the culprits involved are using very clever technology.

He said: "Offenders are using sophisticated technology to record the card details and PIN numbers of unwitting members of the public.

"They do this by putting realistic-looking false controls, which include a card slot and a keypad over the existing ATM controls."

Police in Gloucestershire are advising shoppers to remain vigilant when using cash machines, particularly at Tesco stores in the county where a number of the incidents have already taken place.

Mr Francis said: "To protect themselves members of the public should always look closely at a cash machine before using it. If they spot anything attached to it, if it looks or feels as if it has been tampered with, they should not put their card into it."

If anyone has any information about cash machines crimes or suspects a machine has been tampered with they should contact Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.