Customers at Leicestershire shop warned after skimmer spotted on cash machine

Customers of a Co-op store in Leicestershire are being warned after a suspected skimming device was foound on a cash machine.

Store bosses took to Facebook to issue the warning earlier this week.

They wrote: "It is true, we had been notified of a skimmer attached to the cash machine.

"It has now been removed but until we learn more about this particular device, we advise everyone who has used this machine recently to get in contact with their bank.

"Unfortunately, we are unaware of the length of time it has been fitted, we are still investigating this.

"We will keep you informed. Sorry for any inconvenience caused."

The post has since been removed.

The device was found on the cash machine at the Co-op in Main Street, Cosby.

A card skimmer is a device placed into the card slot of a cash machine that allows a crook to steal a card's information by capturing and storing it.

Once the information has been taken by the device, the fraudster can then take money from your account or use the information to make a payment online.

A spokesperson for cash machine operator Cardtronics said:"We are working together with the police and the Co-op on this incident.

"We can confirm that the ATM was turned off as soon as we were notified of the suspected fraudulent activity and we are installing further security measures this week"

A spokesperson for the Co-op, said, “Safety and security is of the highest priority and the cash machine was closed down as a precaution by our ATM operator as soon as the concern was raised.”

Advice to customers

• Check for any abnormalities to the cash machine before inserting your card. If something looks out of place or unusual it probably is. Do not insert your card and report it immediately.

• Always protect your PIN, from behind and above, to guard against hidden cameras and someone looking over your shoulder.

• Don't let yourself get distracted. Don't use ATMs whilst wearing headphones or on a phone call. If someone starts talking to you for no reason and appears to be trying to distract you, either finish your transaction before speaking to them, or cancel it. Never turn your back on the ATM to talk to someone while you're using it.

• If your card is taken unexpectedly, don't walk away from the machine. Contact your bank and, unless it's been genuinely been withheld because it's out of date or you've forgotten your pin number, have them cancel or put a block on your card