Police have been made aware of a potential skimming gang working in the Brookfield area.

Three different victims have lost a total of over $1000 from their accounts this weekend.

Skimmers have cloned their bank cards, watched them enter their PIN numbers and used the cloned cards to take money from the accounts throughout Tauranga.

'Police received three different complaints about skimming on Sunday afternoon, so we encourage people to come forward if they think they may be a victim of a skimming,” says Tauranga Police Sergeant Richard Martin.

'You can protect yourself by keeping an eye on your card at all times and making a note of where and when you use it. Remember to cover your PIN while completing a transaction.

'Anyone who thinks their card has had unauthorised use need to check their accounts after each transaction and contact their banks to close their accounts as soon as possible."

Anyone who believes they are a victim of crime, in person or online, should report the matter to their local police station. Contact details can be found at www.police.co.nz/contact-us/stations