Cash machine crime warning

Police officers have been demonstrating how criminals commit cash machine fraud and how members of the public can reduce their chances of falling victim of this type of fraud.

Last week, officers from the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) used a dummy cash machine and seized criminal devices to demonstrate how criminals commit cash machine fraud.

Top tips to reduce the chances of being a victim of cash machine crime

Choosing a cash machine:

• be alert and put your personal safety first
• if there is anything unusual about the cash machine or if there are signs of tampering, do not use it and report it to the bank as soon as possible.

Using a cash machine:

• if someone is behaving suspiciously or watching you, cancel the transaction and go to another machine
• don’t get distracted. Be particularly cautious if ‘well-meaning’ strangers try to distract you or offer to help you
• shield your PIN. Stand close to the cash machine and always use your free hand to shield the keypad to prevent any prying eyes or hidden cameras seeing your PIN.

Leaving a cash machine:

• on completing a transaction, discreetly put your money and card away before leaving a cash machine
• report incidents promptly. Make sure you have your bank’s phone number stored in your mobile. If your card is retained by the cash machine or your money is not dispensed, report the incident to your bank immediately, ideally using your mobile phone while you are still at the machine
• destroy or preferably shred your cash machine receipt, mini-statement or balance enquiry when you dispose of them.

Monitoring your accounts:

• an identity protection service such as ProtectMyID monitors your Experian credit report and alerts you by email or SMS to potential fraudulent activity. If it's fraud, a dedicated caseworker will help you resolve everything.

Read more about the cash machine fraud warning on DCPCU’s website.

Please note: Action Fraud is not responsible for the content on external websites.

To report a fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool.