Residents in Whitstable and Herne Bay are being warned to be vigilant after several incidents of credit card fraud were discovered.

There have been reports scammers have cloned cards and spent people's money without the owner knowing about it.

BayPromoTeam events organiser Gerald McCarthy realised he had been a victim after he was contacted by his bank's fraud squad.

He said: "I was asked by my bank if I had spent money on a transaction for a £28 takeaway at 3.15pm, I said I hadn't.

"I then got a phone call from the fraud department who confirmed that my card had been cloned and used.

"I've got a holiday planned abroad, but now I'm going to have to go without my card which is going to be a nightmare."

There have been rumours about where the cloning may have taken place, with people on Facebook suggesting that supermarket pay-at-pump petrol stations may have been targeted by the thieves.

Mr McCarthy added: "It seems fairly widespread in the CT5 and CT6 postcodes, with some saying they had theirs done at the petrol pumps.

"They only take a small amount, but on a regular basis, so you don't notice it on the transaction. The best thing to do is keep aware of your statements and be aware of what you spend your money on."

Have you been affected? Let us know your experiences by contacting reporter Aidan Barlow on 01227 475928. Email: abarlow@thekmgroup.co.uk or contact the Gazette on Facebook.