It appears a number of different suspects have been targeting the area and the ATM's at our banks, including the ATM's outside Morrisons.
Bexley Neighbourhood Watch are asking you to be extra vigilant when using any ATM in the High Street or outside the supermarket. Be observant and make sure there is no one loitering near the machine (hiding near or behind post boxes, telephone boxes, on junctions etc). Also check across the road opposite to make sure no one is paying attention to these machines.
It appears one of their favourite methods of distraction is inserting a piece of paper in the card slot before victims approach and place their card in the slot. This then blocks the ATM and makes the ATM redundant. Suspects at this point usually approach their victim to notify them that it's not working and advise them to inform someone or try another card in another machine. Whilst engaging with the victim the suspects have usually managed to remove your card without the victims knowledge.
Please be aware of this and please pass on the message to friends and family. The suspects do tend to target the most vulnerable people such as the elderly.
If your bank card does become lodged in the machine then please raise awareness with the bank immediately so they can remove the card. If the card is missing then the bank should cancel the card immediately. So if your card jams in a machine don’t leave that spot call your bank from there and stop your card.
On ATM withdrawals you can set limits for Barclays but not for self service. You can also set a spend limit on card via the bank app and can stop card straight away through the app as well.
Furthermore if at all possible then please use the ATM's inside the bank themselves.
The Sidcup police team have been carrying out plain clothed operations in the High Street this week. Along with our colleagues from Longlands SNT and St Marys & St Johns SNT they have managed to arrest two suspects who were loitering near the Barclays bank, one of whom was in possession of equipment that’s usually linked to distraction thefts (Lebanese loop, plastic, metal tools, bank cards etc).
For info on Lebanese loops click on the link https://www.actionfraud.
police.uk/news/lebanese-loop- cash-machine-scam and at https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/2021/11/cash-machine-scam.html
