At an access control device (1) with a reading device (4) for data carriers (8), on which access authorization and identification details are stored, a camera (7) is envisaged that takes digitized photographs of the users of the access control device (1), which are then stored in a database (9) together with the identification details read from the data carrier (8) by the reading device (4). An official (15) operates a terminal with a screen (12) that communicates with the database (9), through which the identification details on the data carrier (8) are verified, and to which the stored photograph of the user of the data carrier (8), taken by the camera (7) during access to the access control device (1) by the user, is transmissible for visual comparison with the user being checked (16).