Two such fraud schemes have been discovered in Shanghai and three others have been reported in other parts of the country, police said, although they wouldn't say how widespread the problem is or how many people have been defrauded.

Most of the schemes involve using high-tech methods to tamper with the machines to confiscate people's bankcards, while criminals use small cameras or telescopes to watch users input their passwords.

On February 12, a man had his bankcard confiscated by an ATM on Jianguo Road in Luwan District.

When he spotted a hidden mini-camera videotaping the machine's keyboard, he called police. Officers said the man didn't lose any money, but wouldn't say if there had been any arrests in the case.

Another local scheme was successful as criminals stole 4,700 yuan (US$566) from the account of a woman, identified only as Chen.

After her card was confiscated by an ATM in early March, Chen called her bank using a phone number posted on the machine. But the number the woman had dialed was actually the one posted by the thieves. At the other end of the phone, the culprits asked her PIN number and the serial number on her card, which they then used to make a new card.

"The cases are under investigation," said Fang Dinghua of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau yesterday.

Three other schemes were reported in Beijing, Fuzhou and an unidentified city.

One trick involved using a camera to get the PIN number and then creating a fake bankcard using information on a transaction record sheet, which many people simply throw away after they get their cash.

(eastday.com April 4, 2003)