Spot the difference (From Stroud News and Journal)

Spot the difference

WOULD you be able to tell which of these two cash machines has a high-tech card-skimming device attached?

The one on the left - at the Tesco supermarket in Stratford Road, Stroud - has in fact been tampered with but these pictures show just how difficult it would be for shoppers to spot anything was amiss.

Devices like these have been used to steal cash from scores of shoppers across the county.

Locally, incidents have been reported in Quedgeley in Cirencester. The device on the ATM pictured was discovered at 5.30pm last Wednesday.

Sergeant Garrett Gloyn, of Stroud Police Station, explained how the cunning ruse works.

"A device designed to look like part of the ATM is placed over the card slot," he said.

"When a card is inserted it reads the details and either stores them or transmits them by Bluetooth to a phone."

Meanwhile, a carefully concealed camera picks up the PIN number entered.

"We would advise people to always have a good look at the machine they are using to make sure nothing has been stuck over the card slot," added Sgt Gloyn.

"If someone does find one of these devices they should call 999 immediately."

* Two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, have been charged with tampering with the Stratford Road Tesco cashpoint and are due at Stroud Magistrates' Court today, Wednesday.