The level of crime being committed at cash point machines and retail outlets where you mght go to buy a par of women’s shoes is increasing. How do you realise if the cash point machine has been tampered with and by using it without being aware, you could become the next victim to card fraud. The media and associations promote us to protect our pin and keep it covered particularly when using your card at the cash point machines but do we know the best way to do this?
Do you believe you cover your pin well? I am generally more worried about the people about me, who may be peering over my around me. Is anyone watching my transaction, will they follow me? It has not occurred to me that I may be being watched without being aware of it. I couldn’t see anybody watching me, there was nobody nearby.
There was nothing different about the cashpoint which we used on the way to buy our new season’s women’s footwear. I carried out my transaction, but my card was not given back to me.
I didn’t want to leave the machine but needed to get assistance and didn’t know what to do or where to go. There is no number on the machine to call for assistance at any time of day. My card has a 24 hour helpline number but guess what, I can’t get to it because it is still in the machine.
I can see part of the card but I can’t reach it and pull it out. These scams are so seriously plotted and well covered that it is so easily to become the next victim. Somewhere there will be a camera craftily concealed in the top portion looking down to the keypad where you insert your pin.
The only way to stop your pin number being recorded if a machine has been tampered with is by ensuring that it is covered. The scammers are waiting for you to go off from the ATM so it is unattended whilst you go and get assistance, but in doning that, you are in danger of losing your card as they could turn up and pinch it. But no, they are not, they will be taking your bank card and going off with it. With your pin number and card these scammers are able to use it at other ATM’s and keep using it until they have reached the daily limit, [or] all the money is removed from the account or the bank cancel it and put a stop on its use.
You will need to stay at the machine and not let anybody use it. Check the area where you insert your card and see if anything comes off or can be removed.
By covering the card insert place with another cover, they can use a small piece of card to prevent your card being returned to you. It maybe best to force the card back into the machine instead of risking someone pinching it at a later time but make sure it is forced all the way back into machine.
You may also see a litle hole for a camera or an additional strip of light. A very tiny camera or mobile phone camera can simply be hidden to record your pin.
If you are stuck at the machine, then you may need to call and report your suspicion to the police. They could also be able to assist you to cancel your card.
The best option to avoid all this upset is by being more conscious to the cashpoint before using it and if you are unsure at all, it may be best to use a different machine.
