ATM Skimming devices discovered in use within the Inverness area

8th January 2014

Earlier today police in Inverness discovered Skimming devices fitted to two ATM card machines at two seperate locations in the city. The first device was fitted to an ATM at the Inverness Business & Retail Park, Eastfield Way. The second device was fitted to a ATM at the Telford Street Retail Park.

Police are asking the public to be vigilant when using ATMs and if they notice anything suspicious to report this to their bank and their nearest Police Station on 101 immediately.

Enquiries into these devices are at an early stage and police are appealing for sightings of any suspicious persons or activity to be reported to them by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Card skimming occurs when the 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. However, there will be a very small hole for the camera, as indicated in the pictures provided and this will be visible if a user checks the machine carefully before use.

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 victims 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.