"Victims are persuaded to hand the card to the 'kind helper' who offers to see if it will work in the other ATM, a ruse that allows the thief to scan the targeted card with a skimming device hidden in his hand. Once read the card is inserted into the ATM and the victim instructed to enter the PIN -- in full view of the thief," says Klein.

The unfortunate card-holder remains blissfully unaware a crime has been committed, often until it is too late.