Authorities warning public about ATM scam along Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue

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Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — The General Directorate of Public Safety is alerting people in Playa del Carmen to a new ATM scam in the city’s center.

The division of public safety for Solidaridad has released a statement advising the general public take caution when using ATMs, especially along Fifth Avenue. A member of the tourist police made the scam discovery at an ATM on Fifth Avenue where he says thieves are preventing people from receiving their cash.

Police use a yellow tool to show where the paper is stuffed into the ATM.

In a short video, the police show how criminals are stuffing the money slot with thick toilet paper, preventing the cash from exiting the machines. Once the ATM user leaves, they remove the stuffed paper and take the cash.

The Directorate of Public Safety of Solidaridad is warning people to verify the ATMs before making their withdrawal and if they encounter an ATM that has been tampered with, they should report it to 911.

They are also instructing banks to check the trays of their ATMs adding that out of 40 machines located along Fifth and Tenth Avenues, four ATMs were found tampered with. Police say one person was arrested for their alleged involvement.

Source: Riviera Maya News

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