Consumers were yesterday urged to avoid becoming victims of fraud by shielding their Pin when they enter it into a cash machine.

ATM network Link said it obtained video footage showing how criminals obtained consumers' Pins at cash machines they targeted.

It said the criminals attached a skimming device to the card entry slot on the machine, enabling them to copy all of the information held on a card's magnetic strip.

They also installed a miniature pinhole camera over the ATM's keypad to record people's Pin as they typed it in.

But the group said the footage showed that if consumers took the simple step of shielding the keypad with their hand as they typed in their Pin, the camera would not be able to film what their number was.

Cash machine fraud losses totalled £36.7 million last year, and although this is down 51 per cent on 2004, when they peaked at £74.6 million, banks are still urging their customers to be vigilant.

Edwin Schooling Latter, managing director of Link Scheme, said: "Incidences of cash machine crime may be few and far between but it is very difficult for a member of the public to tell if an ATM has been targeted or not.

"The best thing to do is always to be on the safe side and shield the keypad whenever you enter your Pin."