A UCLan student has lost hundreds of pounds after using a doctored cash machine at Foster building.

Sociology and criminology student Phil Simmonds used the machine at the beginning of October and found that £1,200 had been taken from his account.

Students have been advised to be vigilant when using ATMs both on and off campus.

“I went to get cash and the machine said my limit had been exceeded,” said first-year Phil, from south London.

“When I went to see the bank, they thought it was me and said I’d taken out £300 on four consecutive days.

“They even said I’d taken money out in Burnley and I’ve never been there.”

It was then, after Phil had explained he was a student at UCLan, staff at the Nationwide building society in Preston told him a clone device had been fitted to the machine.

Phil was also told that at least three other customers had also lost cash.

“They did say that I would get the money back within six to 10 days,” said a relieved Phil. “But I will put my money on my debit card now and pay at the till.”

Barclays, who own the ATM machine, had no comment to make until they had finished their investigations into the incident.

Janet Maiden, security and mailroom manager, said: “At this stage Barclays cannot confirm anything until their investigations are complete – it could be that the device fitted hasn’t actually done anything, it could just be that the machine has been tampered with and wires disconnected, but at this stage Barclays cannot confirm. However, for precautionary purposes, we have suggested that anyone who has used the machine recently checks their account and contacts their bank.”

The Foster cash machine is the only machine on campus and is not covered by security cameras, as the canopy from Foster building obscures the view of the camera situated on Harris building.

The clone devices used by criminals can take many forms and be either wired into, or glued onto the fascia of ATM machines.

They can consist of readers fitted to the card slot, which collect the data from the card’s magnetic strip, with pin-hole cameras that records users entering their pin number.

Students are advised to always shield their pin numbers from above and never to use a machine that looks like it may have been tampered with in any way.

Have you been fleeced by the Foster cash scam?