Barclays releases video warning over new cash machine scam sweeping UK

ATM fraud has risen by one fifth since last year

Bank customers are falling foul of a new distraction scam which is sweeping the country, Barclays bank has warned.

The scam has led Barclays to release a video on how to avoid being a victim and revealing how the scam is done.

The video shows shows a ‘customer’ using an ATM while a woman behind him drops her bag on the floor.


 The video shows a woman distracting the victim from his transaction.

As he turns to help her pick up her bag, an accomplice using an adjacent machine steals the victim’s card, having read his PIN already.

The thief would be able to withdraw the maximum daily amount of money on the victim’s card.

Fraud at ATMs rose by one fifth to £32.7 million last year, according to Financial Fraud Action UK.

In January, Barclays became the first bank to launch a major TV advertising campaign warning customers of potential scams.

Last week the bank launched two new TV adverts warning of email and text scams.

A spokesman for Barclays said in a statement: “Barclays is determined to do all it can to combat fraud. We've had a media campaign across all of our different channels, direct mails, in-branch posters and ATMs, so it actually just felt like a really natural step to put our weight behind a TV campaign.”

The bank warns people not to be distracted when at a cash machine and to ignore anyone who tries to talk to you, even if they appear helpful.