POLICE are warning shoppers to keep a close eye on their credit cards after a recent rise in the number of card cloning incidents.

Card reading machines have been discovered on several ATM machines across the county as fraudsters come up with new and innovative ways of obtaining personal information.

The machines, which are placed over the hole in the wall clone, or skim, the card while a small camera captures the PIN number as it is typed onto the keypad. All this is done without the cardholder becoming suspicious.

To safeguard against the threat of your card being copied police have issued the following advice.

* Before inserting your card check the machine to see if there is anything that looks unusual attached to it. If there is, or the machine is not fixed securely to the wall, report it to police and your bank immediately.

*B e aware that fraudsters often place "out of order" signs on machines to force customers to use another one. In the same way they will often use the machines themselves to lull others into a false sense of security.

* If you are distracted by anyone when using a machine, cancel the transaction immediately.

* Be aware of large groups of people around a machine and under no circumstances be tempted to remove a device they are expensive and fraudsters will often guard their equipment and resort to violence to protect it.

* Always ensure you have your own personal space and when waiting to use a cash point machine yourself, give the person at the ATM plenty of space so they do not feel threatened.

* If your card is swallowed, report it to the bank immediately. Do not re-enter your PIN.

Anyone with information about who is involved in credit card fraud can ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. You may be entitled to a cash reward.