PEOPLE wanting to withdraw money from cash machines are being urged to feel their way first.

The police warning comes after two people lost their savings when ATM dispensers were "spiked" by crooks.

Cleveland Police fear a gang is targeting Teesside with the sting, which was devised in Argentina.

People insert bank cards into ATM cash machines to find, despite numerous demands for their pin number, no money is dispensed. Thinking their cards have been retained they walk away.

In reality, thieves have put a thin, clear, rigid plastic sleeve into the card slot, watched and noted the pin number being entered and waited until their victim has left before retrieving the sleeve and the card and emptying their victim's account.

Cleveland Police are urging people to run their fingers along the card slots before inserting their bank cards. The sleeve used by the thieves has tiny prongs that enable them to remove it from the slot.

If one has been inserted in the machine they will feel it. The sleeve also prevents the machine from reading a card's in number.

Detective Constable Chris Bell of Cleveland Police Fraud Squad, said: "This type of fraud used to be found just in London, but such trapping devices have been found on cash machines around the country. We believe that the team is operating this scam in the Cleveland area and would ask people to be on their guard.

"Always check the machine before use. If you feel the tiny prongs you will know it has been tampered with."

It is understood thieves have netted hundreds of pounds after spiking cash machines in Saltburn and Redcar, emptying the accounts of two savers.