Police say thousands of pounds has been stolen.

Police in Devon have issued a warning to shop keepers and staff following a suspected in-store cash machine scam.

A number of reports have been received by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary from store managers who have been contacted by bogus callers claiming to be acting on behalf of PayPoint.

They are asked to carry out diagnostic checks on the in-store cash machines, where a code has to be entered, which transfers money onto online cash vouchers.

PayPoint are advising that they will never make contact to shop owners by telephone.

Peter Brooker of PayPoint said: “We have 375 shops with PayPoint terminals in Devon and Cornwall and we never call them to do upgrades, tests, diagnostic checks, installation of new services or anything else to the terminal.

“The unbreakable rule is that transactions must never be processed over the phone, even if the caller claims to be from PayPoint.

“If they receive a call asking them to do anything on the PayPoint terminal, however urgent it sounds, the shopkeeper should tell the caller they are going to check with PayPoint and then call us immediately.”

There have been six incidents in the force area with thousands of pounds worth of cash stolen.

Anyone who has been a victim or has information is urged to call police on 101 and quote crime reference number EL/12/1800.