Bank customers were warned today about a gang of thieves who could fleece you of all your money.

The group, known to have been in York recently, targets people using bank cash machines and steals not only cash cards but also PIN numbers.

This new scam is potentially more serious than previous cash machine thefts committed in the city because, armed with both cards and PINs, they could have unrestricted access to funds.

The highly-organised gang, which is of Eastern European origin, distracts and confuses people and obtains their PIN number before swapping the unsuspecting victim's cash card for another.

They then withdraw cash from accounts, and it can be days before the victim realises what has happened.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of North Yorkshire police, said that although no complaints had yet been received in the county, they had received information that the gang had been in York over the past two days.

He urged anyone who had been hassled at a cash machine by anyone of Eastern European appearance to check their accounts and contact police if necessary.

Sgt Ventress said the group's tactics involved crowding round people who were withdrawing money from cash machines.

One of them takes a note of the PIN number entered while another distracts the victim by asking for change, he said.

While the victim's attention is drawn away, one of the gang takes the card from the machine and swaps it for another.

Sgt Ventress said: "They really get into the victim's face and leave them rattled and confused.

"They grab the card, which by now they have the PIN number to, and move away without the victim realising what has happened."

The group has also been active in other areas in the North East.

Clare Wormald, spokeswoman for HSBC bank, which has a branch in Parliament Street, said a similar scam had been carried out elsewhere in the country.

She said that although no complaints had yet been received about incidents in York, staff had been alerted.

"Customer safety is important to us and we would urge people to be extra vigilant when using cash machines," she said. If someone is looking over your shoulder, don't be distracted by them and report any suspicious activity to the police."

Contact York police on 01904 631321.