HI-TECH crooks who stole money from people’s bank accounts after targeting cash machines in Weymouth also operated in Dorchester, it has emerged.

The scam does not appear to have been confined to the resort after a victim came forward to say she only uses ATMs in the county town, particularly outside Sainsbury’s in Bridport Road and at Tesco in Weymouth Avenue.

Police said they were carrying out inquiries with local branches of banks as part of an investigation into reports of card skimming offences across the county but it is not known if the same gang are responsible for all the crimes.

Ruth Scammell’s experience however happened around the same time people in Weymouth reported fraudulent transactions being made on their cards in Thailand.

Mrs Scammell, of Piddletrenthide, has only used cashpoints in Dorchester.

Her suspicions were raised when she attempted to buy goods with her card in Focus DIY in Dorchester and it was rejected.

Returning home she had a telephone message from her bank’s fraud team who informed her someone had tried to use her card in Thailand to withdraw £64. The bank refused the request and Mrs Scammell has praised the team at her bank HSBC for acting promptly.

But agency nurse Mrs Scammell, 56, said: “It has put me off using cash machines altogether.

“I have since rearranged by bank accounts so I don’t have a large amount of money in one account.”

No-one from Sainsbury’s or Tesco was available for comment.

More victims have come forward since the Echo revealed the skimming scam – a card reading device and mini camera fitted at cash machines in order to read card information and PIN numbers.

It is understood a number of cash machines in Weymouth town centre were tampered with.

Weymouth student Taylor Smith, 17, said his HSBC bank card had been used in Thailand.

He said: “I was very shocked and surprised.

“Although I’m disappointed that not enough is done to protect ATMs and our cash, I would stress that HSBC impressed me with their prompt actions of informing me, checking all my recent transactions, and consequently blocking my card and sending me a new secure one.

“I can now say I will be much more vigilant with my card.”

A Weymouth woman, who did not want to give her name, said she was one of five staff employed at a town department store who had fallen victim to the scam.

She said £350 had been taken from her account which put her overdrawn.

The woman says although the bank is putting the money back into her account she fears she may be charged for not paying bills on time.

Don't become a victim

Advice when using a cashpoint:

• Avoid using a cashpoint if there are suspicious looking people around it

• Check to see if there are any suspicious looking devices or evidence that the cashpoint has been tampered with

• If there are any additional attachments over the card entry slot, do not use the machine

• Shield your PIN with your hand and stand close when typing

• If your card gets jammed or retained, report it to your bank

• Make sure others in the queue are a good distance away

• Never reveal your PIN to anyone, even if someone claims to be from a bank

• Be cautious of strangers offering help or distracting you

• Regularly check your account to make sure there is no suspicious activity

• If you have been a victim of cashpoint fraud report it to your card issuer