A BANK worker took these photographs of a cloning device which was fitted to a cash machine.

They were alerted to the device at a south Essex branch after it fell onto the ground below.

This comes after the Echo reported that a series of cashpoints across Castle Point had been targeted by fraudsters with these devices.

The bank worker, who would not be named, said: “We’ve had two of these recently and this one actually fell on the floor. “It’s got double sized tape on it which doesn’t last very long when it’s holding a camera on upside down.

“It was on the machine for about six hours, you can tell from looking at the CCTV.”

The first picture shows a think plastic device fitted over the lip where you insert your card. The second shows a ‘Nokia’ device which was attached inside the panel of the machine to capture you inputting your PIN.

Insp Brad Dickel, of Leigh police, warned people to be extra careful when using cashpoints. He said: “Both cameras and cloning devices have been fitted to cashpoints throughout Essex and indeed the country. “I would urge local people to be vigilant when withdrawing cash. Make sure you check the surroundings, that there aren’t any cameras fitted, and there’s nothing loose and apparently attached to the cashpoint that’s out of place.

“In short, if people aren’t happy with the way the cash machine looks reports it immediately and use an alternative one.”

Anyone with information about card cloning should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.