'Something looked dodgy at the machine, so I ripped it off and there was my cash!'

Scammers tampered with cash machines in Bamber Bridge at the weekend.

Fake note dispensers were found attached to the TSB cash machine next to Morrisons in Station Road on Sunday morning (April 26).

Cash jammers or cash traps are ATM scams where thieves attach an extra piece of metal or plastic over the cash dispenser slot. It traps cash, making it appear as if the withdrawal failed and allowing thieves to remove the device and steal the money once the user leaves.

The scam was discovered by an ATM user who became suspicious when the TSB machine failed to dispense his cash. He shared pictures of the scam and alerted others on a local Facebook page.

He said: “I was withdrawing cash and it didn’t appear but the machine was beeping to say it had put cash out.

“Something looked dodgy about the slot, so I gave it a gentle pull and it moved a bit. I’ve seen this sort of thing before, so I ripped it out to get my cash.

“These are stuck on the machine to trap your cash. There’s a slot inside which grips the cash and prevents the machine pulling it back in.

“There was only my cash and I think somebody will have been watching to empty it as soon as I had left. I tried to report it, but 101 wasn’t answering and I didn’t think calling 999 was appropriate.

“This was a community awareness post, because if they’ve done one, they might do another.”

Lancashire Police said they were not made aware of the incident, but the force shared the following advice on how to protect yourself from ATM theft.

Tell-tale signs of ATM fraud

It’s a good idea to scan the area around ATMs before you use them. Be aware of anyone standing close by and always check the machine to see if it’s been tampered with before you use it.

Things to look out for are devices attached to the machine – some are more obvious than others. If you do see something suspicious contact the police and the bank.

Remember, if it doesn’t look or feel right then steer clear and, if possible, go inside the bank where it will be safer. And always keep a regular check on your transactions.

Be alert

We know it’s not always easy, but try to be aware of anyone near you when you’re at an ATM. Being aware of your surroundings and not being distracted makes it harder for people to take advantage and less likely that they’ll try to.

Thieves will watch as you key in your PIN or distract you while you’re withdrawing cash. Be vigilant. Cover your PIN and keep an eye on your card at all times. If someone taps you on the shoulder or tries to speak to you, just ignore them.

When you've left the ATM, put your card away immediately.

You should also be careful with contactless cards. You can get a card holder to prevent your card details being inadvertently read.

Tell-tale signs of ATM fraudBe alert