A SHOCKED bank customer has warned people to be on guard after she lost £200 from her account in an apparent con trick.

Maureen Anderson was approached by a man as she was about to use the cash machine outside Barclays in Bolton Road, Walkden.

Mrs Anderson, 57, said: "He said the machine was faulty and told me not to use it.

"I took him at his word. He pressed the button to return my card and I put it in my purse. He then went onto the machine saying he was going to try and check his balance."

Mrs Anderson went inside the bank to try to get money out of her account. When her details were checked it emerged £200 had been taken out just a few moments earlier.

She is convinced the man somehow managed to steal her cash from the machine.

Barclays have referred the matter to their internal fraud investigation department and Mrs Anderson has reported the incident to the police.

She said: "From what I can gather this has happened before. I don't know how he's managed to do it but I definitely had my card in my hand and had not pressed the button to ask for any money."

Barclays have told Mrs Anderson an inquiry must be held before they decide whether she could get £200 compensation.

A spokesman said: "Investigations are underway. We can't make any other comment."

The man was in his late teens or early 20s, pale complexion, with short dark hair combed forward, wearing a cobalt blue bubble jacket.

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