London ATMs: Police discover tiny hidden cameras in cash machines

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It is so well hidden you would never notice it was there – but it could cost you thousands of pounds.

Police have discovered a tiny camera hidden in ATM machines that records unsuspecting members of the public’s credit card details.

Hidden within a false cover on the machine, the pinhead-sized camera enables fraudsters to film people entering their pin numbers.

The device was discovered at a cashpoint in St Paul’s Churchyard in the City of London on 18 February. Two weeks later, a similar device was removed from another nearby ATM by a member of the public.

At least two further ATM cameras have been discovered in the area in recent days. Police are investigating the matter but have so far made no arrests.

“The vast majority or cashpoints in London are perfectly safe - but criminals have been known to tamper with them”, said PC Matt Clarke from the City of London Police Crime Squad.

“We work closely with banks, building societies, and other cash machine vendors, to make sure this type of crime doesn't happen.

“Take care and stay vigilant when using cash machines in the City of London, and London as a whole. If you spot anything unusual about a cash machine, or if there are signs of tampering, don’t use it. If in doubt, try and use a machine inside a branch.”

It comes just days after police in Lancashire discovered tampered ATM machines that kept hold of users’ cards while a camera filmed them entering their pin. The so-called ‘skimming devices’ were found in machines in Preston, Leyland and Bamber Bridge.