CITY of London police are investigating a major debit and credit card fraud centred on a petrol garage in Bexley.

It is believed hundreds of motorists have had their card details stolen and hundreds of thousands of pounds have been withdrawn from their accounts in places as far afield as India, Canada and Thailand.

The garage allegedly at the centre of the investigation is the former Esso garage in Blendon Road, Bexley, now closed and undergoing redevelopment.

Officers are working with the Association for Payment and Clearance Services and the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) on the fraud.

They will not comment on how many people have fallen victim to the fraud, but a number have contacted News Shopper.

Victims claim banks across Bexley are being inundated with queries about unauthorised withdrawals.

One victim had £20,000 withdrawn from her account.

She said: "I urge people to pay for their petrol in cash.

"I have learned the hard way and will not be using my cards in a garage again."

UKPIA says much of the fraud centres on capturing data from a card's magnetic strip rather than the chip.

This is then used to produce a duplicate card which can be used to withdraw cash from machines in countries where the chip and PIN system has not yet been introduced.

UKPIA says it is working hard with other organisations to address the problem.