Learn About Fraud At ATM Machines
The level of crime being committed at cash point machines and retail outlets where you mght go to buy a pair of Birkenstock women’s shoes is growing. How do you recognise if the cash point machine has been tampered with and by using it without being aware, you could become the next target to card fraud. The papers and associations encourage us to protect our pin and keep it covered particularly when using your card at the cash point machines but are we aware of the best way to do this?
Do you believe you cover your pin well? I feel vulnerable by using the cash point and who is around me. Is anyone looking my transaction, will they follow me? I have never been suspicious of using the machine and think it is perfectly trustworthy to use. I wasn’t conscious that anything was wrong or I was being watched.
I hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary with the ATM whilst out with girls shopping for women’s footwear. I entered my pin and made my request, but then my card was not returned, the machine had got stuck.
Oh no, I think the machine has eaten my card but what do you do? There is no number on the machine to call for help at any time of day. I had no telephone number to phone as the 24 hour numbers are on your card and it is not a number I carry on me.
The card was stuck in the machine but I couldn’t touch it. With this growing cashpoint machine scams you are in more danger of becoming a target. It is likely that a camera will video your actions when you insert your pin number.
Yes whoever, is spying on you and part of this scam, will likely be familiar with your pin number unless you covered it. The scammers are waiting for you to move away from the ATM so it is unattended whilst you go and get assistance, but in doing that, you are at risk of losing your card as they could turn up and steal it. Once the card is in their possession, and now they are aware of your pin number, you will find that your card is used at another cash machine and the most amount of cash which can be withdrawn in a go will be taken.
Make sure that you or a friend, of course trustworthy friend, stay with the machine preventing it from any further use until you get your card back. Check the vacinity where you insert your card and see if anything comes off or can be removed.
Cashpoint fraud takes place by by putting an extra cover over the card insert hole with a little card flap which then prevents your card coming out of the machine. It maybe best to push the card back into the machine rather than risking anyone pinching it at a after you but make sure it is pushed all the way back into machine.
Sometimes you can see some light shining at the top portion of the machine signage which fools you to think this is illuminated when in fact it is the recording part of the scam secretly concealed. Take a look to see if you can see any cameras or little holes which could be spying onthe pin pad. Either a simple small camera gadget or a mobile phone with the camera facility in use.
Remember, if you are in any doubt, as said before, do not walk off from the machine, but call for [help/assistance] which may mean you need to call the police, partiicularly if you suspect the machine has been tampered with.
The best option to avoid all this trauma is by being more alert to the cashpoint before using it and if you are in any doubt at all, it may be best to use a different machine.