Highland cashpoint skimming warning

Police have warned the public to be vigilant when using ATMs after a report of a card-skimming device being used in the Evanton area.

Teams of organised criminals have targeted cash machine users by stealing their bank card details and PIN numbers.

Any suspicious devices found attached to ATMs or suspicious activity in the vicinity of banks should be reported immediately.

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 designed to look like a genuine part of the cash machine.

However, there will be a very small hole for the camera and this will be visible if a user looks carefully.

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 victim’s account.

Criminals have also been known to disable nearby machines to channel users to their specially adapted ATMs.

Police have urged anyone with information on the Evanton incident to contact them on 101.