Evening Standard from London, Greater London, England • 15

WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 1964 15 EVENING STANDARD FRAUDSTERS are using fake cash machines bolted to real ones to steal thousands of pounds from the accounts of unwitting bank customers in London The fake machines record the codes on cash magnetic strips and the secret personal identification numbers entered by their owners The gang can then reproduce the information on pieces of plastic or cardboard which will operate real hole-in-the-wall machines One victim pho by SANDRA LAVILLE A legend In the stan lunchtime: Elena Salvonl back In business as maftre dv at L'Etoile picture: ken towner by MARTIN DELGADO tographer Peter Stevens did not realise what had happened until his bank contacted him He had put his card in what looked like a replacement cash machine bolted to the original at a Midland branch in Kentish Town put my card in three times and each time the word flashed he said thought maybe I had put in the wrong number or had gone over my limit so I took my card and walked away MThe machine looked pretty ordinary and everyone behind me in the queue used it But a week or so later I was contacted by my bank and told that it was a fake and someone had copied the details on my card and taken £160 out of my account said it had happened to several other people and that my card had been used in Islington Southwark Kentish Town and Elephant and The umbrella body for banks in Britain the Association for Payment Clearing Services warned customers to be vigilant but said victims would be compensated So far one person has been arrested Scotland fraud squad is investigating every day with scribbled Good Luck messages from among others John Hurt Simon Callow Gillian Lynne Albert Finney and Dame Judi Dench When ran into financial trouble two years ago a group of its most dedicated customers launched a bid to save it and keep Elena as mai-tre The rescue failed was taken over by Quo Vadis owner Jimmy Lahoud and Elena went into semi-retirement Now back at the request of millionaire restaurant-owner Roy Ackerman who bought the long-established in Charlotte Street earlier this year and renamed it in her honour star is shining again at her new Fitzrovia HQ among piles of unopened boxes as workmen struggled to get the restaurant ready for its opening night next Thursday 24 November The walls are already hung with signed photographs of some of the famous people befriended by Duchess of during her years at Blanches and more recently More pictures arrive THE celebrity chef has long been a feature of restaurant life Stars like Marco Pierre White and Raymond Blanc are more famous than the establishments in which they work But next week sees the arrival of a new phenomenon the celebrity maitre as Elena Salvonl greets the first customers at her new restaurant After 50 years as friend and confidante of authors actors and Cabinet ministers Elena has been given her own restaurant Today Elena 74 was holding court I A ARDEN Presents Your Exclusive Christmas Gift at Selfridges Take Six Treat yourself to this spacious bag especially designed for the woman of today Yours with our compliments when you purchase any two or more Elizabeth Arden products including one from our skincare range Elizabeth Arden offers you the opportunity to fill your Christmas gift with your own personal selection of 6 trial sizes from our fabulous choice of 10 Visit the Elizabeth Arden counter at Selfridges now for more details and also book in for your personal mini facial and makeover where we will give you hot tips on how to look" great for Christmas Excluding Up-Fix Creme and Eye-Fix Primer One gift per customer while stocks last For further information please call 0800 4 1 3733 Offer available until Thursday 1 7th November 1994 EXCLUSIVELY AT SELFRIDGES Oxford Street London 071-629 1234 3t WjfXV'-- 3 imi eii -KttuVfiprA'TP'f 1 i -'I 14.