Withdrawing money from an Automated Teller Machine is a quick and convenient way to access your money, especially during a cash emergency.
While the usage of the ATMs has increased significantly over the past 10 years, fraudsters have become more sophisticated in their methods of trying to steal funds from bank accounts.
ABB exclusively gives five tips on how to stay safe at the ATM.
- Check the cash machine before using it: You may not have time to thoroughly check an ATM before inserting your card, but there are a few quick and simple things you can do.
Only use the ATMs situated in well-lit and busy areas, particularly after nightfall. Preferably, use an ATM located indoors, in a bank or building society branch, or one that is monitored by the CCTV. Try to steer clear of machines that have been vandalised or mistreated.
- Take a friend with you: The ATM fraudsters are not restricted to technology-based scams. There is also the possibility of being tricked into revealing your Personal Identification Number to a stranger, or being mugged.
If you feel uneasy about taking cash from a machine in a certain area, take a friend with you to put off any would-be assailants.
If you spot anyone loitering around the ATM looking suspicious, report them immediately to the police.
- Protect your PIN: Always place your hand over the keypad to act as a shield while inputting your PIN.
Avoid inputting your PIN if there are people too close to you and never reveal your PIN to anyone, not even bank workers.
- Never accept help from strangers: It doesn’t matter how inoffensive, friendly or gallant someone may appear, never accept help from strangers.
If your card gets stuck in a machine, do not leave it there. Report it immediately using your mobile phone.
If you brought a friend along with you to withdraw cash, one of you can remain at the ATM while the other goes to report it.
Strangers may offer to help, but they can’t. Again, never reveal your PIN to anyone, not even if they claim to work for your bank, the owner of the machine, the local authorities or the police.
- Don’t withdraw cash after drinking alcohol: Try to withdraw all the cash you need at the beginning of an evening out, rather than mid-way through a mammoth pub crawl.
Alcohol impairs your judgement and can make you less likely to spot a dodgy cash machine or notice suspicious activities.
Alcohol consumption can also make you more trusting of ‘helpful’ strangers should you experience any problems at the ATM, such as your card getting stuck.
If you are a bit tipsy, there is also the risk that you won’t remember to withdraw your card after using it, or that you will leave some cash in the machine.
- Check ATM receipts against your bank statements: Sometimes even the most cautious people can get caught out by fraudsters.
Your bank should compensate any losses, but the onus will be on you to report it.
Check all cash withdrawals against your bank statement and keep receipts from the ATM to check back against your statement.
Always select ‘yes’ if a cash machine asks if you require a receipt. Doing so will mean you have evidence of the transaction in the event of making a claim to your bank.
