Dunblane Community Council has appealed to banks after High Street ATMs were the target of fraudsters nine times over the past 18 months.

The council has written to Bank of Scotland and RBS calling for the machines to be modernised.

Terence O’Byrne, chairman of the Community Council, said: “Police have advised us that the Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of Scotland ATMs, both within a few yards of each other, have been targeted by fraudsters nine times in the past 18 months. These machines have been in place for many years. As newer designs have enhanced features to deter fraud, I think the community would be reassured if the ATMs were modernised.

“There is clearly an issue with ATMs in Dunblane, and in the interests of public safety I would call on the banks to take action now before anyone else finds themselves the unwitting victim of fraud.” RBS responded to the council’s letter, explaining that £700 million is being invested over the next three years to improve branches and ATMs. The decision is still to be made whether or not this improvement will include Dunblane.

Those in Dunblane who have fallen victim to the fraud have been the subject of ‘skimming’. Fraudsters use hidden electronic equipment on the ATM to steal the card details. They do this by placing a card reader over the real ATM slot, and then use tiny hidden cameras to view the PIN.

Skimming requires both parts to complete the fraud so it is vital to make sure that the ATM doesn’t look unfamiliar, and that the keyboard is shielded when entering the PIN.

When contacted by the Stirling News, a spokesperson for the Royal Bank of Scotland said: “We would re-iterate that devices are becoming even more sophisticated and harder to detect, and even the most up to date ATM models are not completely fraud proof.

“The most effective way to protect yourself against skimming attacks is to always shield your PIN when entering it, either with a hand, a purse or a wallet. Not having the PIN dramatically limits the criminals ability to use the card or card data to access funds. If your card appears to have been retained by an ATM, call your card issuer immediately to have the card cancelled and a new one ordered.” The bank also advised customers to familiarise themselves with their local ATM. If customers are aware of things like what the card entry slot looks like, they are more likely to be able to report anything suspicious to the bank.

Bank of Scotland offered similar advice. A spokesperson said: “Customers of any bank who use an ATM that they think has been affected by a skimming or card entrapment device should contact their local branch so arrangements can be made for them to be refunded. If anyone sees anything suspicious on any ATM they should advise the branch in question immediately.” However, Dunblane Community Council is not satisfied with the banks’ response, and are seeking more details about when they can expect new ATMs.

Terence added: “It is not acceptable that RBS do not know when, or even if, Dunblane is due for a new ATM. We are not interested in how much money they are spending in total, only on what they are doing in Dunblane.

“As for Bank Of Scotland, they have not bothered to reply to us after two weeks, at least RBS did reply in a timely manner.” ATM Anti-fraud tips: 1. Scan the whole ATM area before you approach it. Avoid using the ATM if there are suspicious looking individuals around.

2. Check to see if anything looks unusual or suspicious about the ATM or if it looks like it has been tampered with.

3. If it appears to have any attachments to the card slot, cash slot or keypad, do not use it. If possible, alert nearby staff or call the police.

4. Stand close to the ATM and shield the keypad with your hand when keying in your PIN.

5. Check that others in the queue keep a good distance from you.

6. If your card gets jammed or retained by the machine or no cash comes out, report this immediately to your bank or building society, ideally using your mobile phone while you are still at the machine.

7. Keep your PIN secret. Never reveal your PIN to anyone, whether that is someone claiming to be from your bank, a police officer or, especially, a “helpful” stranger.

8. Be especially cautious if strangers try to distract you or offer to help at an ATM, even if your card is stuck or you are experiencing difficulty with the transaction.

9. Regularly check your account balance and keep your receipt to check against your statement.