KENT Police's serious economic crime unit is issuing advice to all credit and debit card users as they continue to investigate a number of reports of fraud activity in the county.

The advice follows a national problem after it has been found that PIN pads at some petrol stations have been modified to compromise card details contained on the magnetic strip of credit and debit cards, and the related card PIN.

The data from the cards is mainly used to withdraw money from ATMs in various part of the world.

While the PIN pad reader device is being used to facilitate this crime, it is important to note that the data being compromised is from the magnetic strip of the card and not the chip.

Cards compromised in this way may not be subject to fraud straightaway. On average there is a delay of about a month between compromise and usage, although this can be as short as two to three days, and as long as three months.

A number of locations in Kent have been identified where cards have been compromised in this way, with fraud reported so far on just over 800 cards.

Kent Police continue to work with other police forces, the banking, and retail industries to reduce the risk, and bring those responsible to justice.

To date 22 people have been arrested in connection with the compromise of cards in Kent, and subsequent fraudulent withdrawals from those accounts.

Detective Sgt David West, of county's serious economic crime unit, said: “We would urge members of the public to be vigilant when using credit and debit cards to carry out transactions.

“Always shield the keypad when entering your PIN so that it may not be seen by others, or by concealed video recording devices.

“If a transaction is carried out using the chip reader, then there is no reason why the retailer should swipe the card through another machine.

"If this is done the customer should question the retailer, or report the matter to the bank, or the police.

“Check account statements regularly, and query with your bank any transactions that you do not recognise.”

If you are a victim of this type of crime, report it to your bank or building society, and the police.

When reporting the matter to the police it is important to provide the card number (16\18 digit number printed across the middle of the card) as this will assist in the identification of the point of compromise.