Customers get wise to card scam

The initiative proved a success in neighbouring Marlborough

Bank customers in a Wiltshire town are being shown how to spot suspect scam devices on cash machines.

The Barclays branch in Devizes was demonstrating on Tuesday how thieves "skim" card details and use them to plunder accounts.

Posters will go on every cash machine in the town to help people recognise those which have been tampered with.

The campaign was trialled in Marlborough last summer and cut scam incidents to zero, police said.

Sergeant Steve McGrath, who is the brains behind the poster, said: "The idea is to raise awareness. If it doesn't look like the one in the poster, then don't use it.

"Other things that can raise suspicion are that the card slot will be prouder than it might be and the card will be difficult to get in."

Devizes branch manager Matt Couzens added: "The staff check our machines daily, but obviously there aren't people here at weekends and this sort of crime happens, so this is an important initiative for our customers and the local community."