Canadian tourists Hoang Nguyen, 39, and his nephew Quang Nguyen, 28, set up a camera and card reader on two Christchurch ATMs. (FILE SHOT)

They want to go home, but instead they're likely to go to jail.

Two Canadian men from Quebec pleaded guilty to charges of trying to "skim" Westpac ATM's to obtain bankcard and PIN information.

Hoang Nguyen, 39, and his nephew Quang Nguyen, 28, were jointly charged with two charges of accessing computer systems – both Westpac automatic teller machines – with intent to dishonestly obtain bankcard information.

The police summary of facts said the men were card "skimming" with a hidden card reader device on ATM machines and a hidden camera they attached to the machines to capture the PIN numbers customers entered on the key pad.

READ MORE: Two card skimmers arrested in Christchurch

The men arrived in New Zealand on February 26, 2018 on three-month visitor's visas.

Between that date and March 3, the men installed a camera onto the Westpac ATM machine in Seaview Mall, New Brighton. They also worked on the machine at the Westpac branch at Eastgate, Linwood on March 1.

The men did not access any money from the machines before they were caught.

Elizabeth Bulger, defence counsel for Hoang Nguyen, said her client was keen to get back to Canada as soon as he could, but knew it was likely he would get a prison sentence.

Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen O'Driscoll remanded the men in custody to be sentenced on May 15. He asked for a pre-sentence report for each man and told them it was highly likely a sentence of prison would be imposed on the charges.

After the arrests, Detective Sergeant Joanne Parks said it was a timely reminder for members of the public to be aware when using ATMs and report anything added to it to the bank.

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