VIDEO: Police warn of more bank card skimming in Inverness
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PEOPLE who used a cash machine outside Morrisons supermarket in Inverness at the weekend may have had details of their bank cards stolen, police have warned.
The latest incident of card skimming in the Highland Capital was reported to Northern Constabulary on Sunday.
Police are calling on anyone concerned that their accounts may have been tampered with to contact the force and their bank.
"Teams of organised criminals have in the past targeted ATM users by stealing their bank card details and PIN numbers with sophisticated card skimming devices and cameras," said a force spokesman.
The force have produced a video highlighting some of the things the public can do to avoid becoming victims of card skimming.
"The film shows the public what to look out for and goes into details about how these machines work," he added.
On 9th August last year, two Romanian men — Florin Pop (27) and Alexandru Anton (22) — were jailed at Inverness Sheriff Court for two year nine months for a skimming operation at Tesco Inshes in Inverness five months earlier.
"Those convicted were part of a wider, organised criminal network and continued vigilance by both the police and members of the public is required," added the spokesman.
Anyone with information should contact Inverness police on: 01463 715555.
What is card skimming?
Card skimming occurs when criminals fit a device over the normal card entry slot on the front of an ATM and a hidden camera directed at the keypad.
The camera is usually concealed behind a false plate which is designed to look like a genuine part of the ATM.
The skimming device captures the card details and the hidden camera records the PIN number.
A replica card is then made and used to withdraw cash from the victim’s account.
Usually those who commit this type of crime will be in the vicinity of the machine, observing activity and making sure that the ATM user does not detect their equipment.
Criminals have also been known to disable nearby cash machines as a means of channelling users towards their specially adapted machine.
