Criminals have been tampering with payment slots at cash machines to obtain people’s money.
A new scam in circulation sees fraudsters using dual-purpose ATMs to access withdrawals and placing a box over the money dispenser.
By concealing the withdrawal slot with a plastic cover, it tricks customers into thinking there is only one box for both withdrawals and deposits.
The customer is then led to believe the cash point is out of service because nothing is dispensed, unaware that there is a separate slot for withdrawals, the Mirror reports.
Once the customer walks away, the criminal then approaches the machine, opens the cover over the correct dispenser and pockets the money.
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The trick was first flagged on social media, after a TikTok user filmed himself using a suspicious-looking hole in the wall.
In the video, the customer questions why his money was not dispensed.
He then discovers a sign above the ATM that says deposits are currently out of service.
The customer is led to assume the deposit box is the same box that cash is dispensed out of – which is currently out of order.
However, he then discovers a plastic lid on a separate part of the cash machine.
He is seen peeling off the plastic cover where his cash has been hidden.
In the filmed clip, the customer used a Nationwide Building Society cash point, however other banks that include deposit boxes are likely to be affected.
The building society told the Mirror customers should always check for suspicious activity before withdrawing cash in public.
A spokesman said: “The type of incident highlighted in the video, although rare, can happen to ATMs anywhere at any time. Nationwide has a range of measures in place to try and combat these types of scams.
“However, as the video also demonstrates, it is important that people remain vigilant and check for any suspicious devices when using ATMs, especially those located outside.”
Several more lenders have issued warnings to customers.
Santander said customers should check for signs a cash machine may have been tampered with before entering their card or pin number.
Barclays issued a similar warning and said anything unusual or suspicious at an ATM should be reported immediately to the police or the nearest branch – without using it.
How to stay safe at a cash machine
Industry body UK Finance said if your money does not come out, you should contact the ATM provider or lender immediately, ideally while at the cash point.
“Cash machines are generally very safe to use, with millions of transactions every day, but it’s still important to take some simple steps when withdrawing money,”
“If you notice anything suspicious or unusual about an ATM, such as signs of tampering, don’t use it and if possible alert nearby staff or call the police.
“If no cash comes out or your card is jammed, report it immediately to your bank or building society, ideally by calling them while you are still in front of the machine.”
If in doubt, use a cash point located inside a known retailer or bank or building society or an over the counter service instead.
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