FIRMS have been warned to be on the look-out for two scams that are doing the rounds this Christmas and new year.

West Midlands Business Council's regional business crime forum chairman Mike Cherry said: "If your debit or credit card gets stuck in the cashpoint machine there may be more to it than meets the eye. While the card may be held because of financial issues, some criminals are deliberately tampering with ATM machines so that they can steal your card - even though it just seems stuck in the slot.

"Do not fall for strangers posing as Good Samaritans who are hovering around ATM machines.

"Instead talk to authorised bank staff, or even the police.

Mr Cherry, who is also chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses' regional policy unit, said: "Another scam that can dog consumers are telephone callers pretending to be from your bank trying to get the security numbers on the back of your credit or debit card.

"A real call from your bank would not ask for this - so always refuse to give these details." He added businesses often made particularly juicy targets for scams and conmen.

He said: "The West Midlands Business Council's regional business crime forum will be on the look-out for further scams, as well as working with the police, the Home Office, Trading Standards, local government and the regional development agency in our fight against crime. But everyone needs to be careful."