Woman’s cash card skimming scare

A WOMAN claims her card was “skimmed” after using an ATM.

The 42-year-old called Niki was hunting for Christmas presents on a “shopping journey” in a Teesside Park store on Thursday when a shock text from her bank brought that to an end.

Niki, who didn’t wish to disclose her surname, had withdrawn cash from a Barclays cash machine at the Asda store.

Shortly afterwards she was told by her bank, Halifax, her card had likely been skimmed and three or four transactions had been blocked.

The medical secretary said: “I was like what’s going on? I’m thankful that nothing was taken out my bank account.

“I had been shopping around Teesside Park, I had gone to the cash machine, I had withdrawn some money from the Asda cash machine, about half an hour later I got a text message from Halifax.

“Luckily they had blocked any transaction.

“There was about three or four transactions they tried to make.”

She added: “They have cancelled my old card, they are sending me a new card which is a bit of an inconvenience at this time of year.”

A post on the Incidents on Teesside & County Durham Facebook page warning people about the cash machine has been shared more almost 3,000 times.

The woman, who was shopping with her mother at around 4.30pm, said she contacted security at the Asda store and made them aware.

A spokesperson for Barclays said: “We are not aware of any issues relating to Barclays ATMS in Middlesbrough.”