Gardaí believe they have prevented a major fraud operation after seizing a micro-camera and a bank card "skimming machine" at an ATM machine in Co Meath.
It appears that the camera had been fitted close to the keypad so it could record customers as they entered their PIN numbers.
The equipment was found in a stolen car that was pursued by gardaí after people were seen acting suspiciously close to the ATM on Sunday afternoon.
The equipment was not properly fixed to the machine and fell down while a woman was using the machine.
She immediately went to gardaí and they discovered a pinhole camera.
Gardaí spotted a car that had been waiting nearby, and they followed it as it travelled towards Dublin.
There were two people in the car but they abandoned it between Ashbourne and Finglas and ran into nearby fields.
The car was reported stolen and inside it gardaí recovered a quantity of equipment. This included a video-recording system that was linked by remote control to the camera at the ATM.
They also recovered what seems to be a "skimming machine". This can be attached to ATMs and is able to remove security information from the magnetic strip on the bank cards.
With both pieces of information the ATM card can be copied and used anywhere in the world to withdraw money.
The use of forged cards has been recorded in other European countries within an hour of the scam taking place in Ireland, according to Ms Una Dillon, manager of Irish Payment Services Organisation, the umbrella body for payments services offered by the financial institutions.
In some cases up to €30,000 has been fraudulently obtained. Ms Dillon said the gangs involved would withdraw money just before and after midnight because there was a daily limit on the amount of money a card was authorised to withdraw.
"Our advice to people is to be aware of people around you, and even if there is a camera if you shield the keypad with one hand while keying in the PIN with the other hand, than they will not see your PIN. It is simple but effective."
Gardaí in Ashbourne are investigating the ATM incident.