Police warn of store cash machine scam

The police are urging shopkeepers to be vigilant folowing a spate of store cash machine scams across the force.

Devon and Cornwall police are issuing a warning for shop keepers and staff of a suspected scam involving in-store cash machines.

Police have received reports from various store managers who have Paypoint ATM machines in their premises after they have been contacted by bogus callers, claiming to be acting on behalf of the Paypoint company.

The managers have been telephoned by suspects and asked to carry out ‘diagnostic checks’ on the machines.

This involves being asked to enter codes into the Paypoint system – which police say transfers money out.

A Devon and Cornwall police spokesperson said: “Paypoint have been advised and state that they will never make contact with shopkeepers by telephone.”

The police said a total of six crimes have been committed in areas across the force with thousands of pounds being stolen.

Anyone who thinks that they may have been a victim of this fraud is asked to contact the police on the new non emergency number 101 and quote crime number EL/12/1800.