ATM Scams-Why You Should Use Caution
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Skimming Scams
ATM scams are the most common scams that can happen in any country, so it’s very important to be aware. Scammers rig the ATM machines with skimmers that can read all of your card data. They also use small cameras to capture you putting in your pin number. The best way to avoid these cameras from capturing you is to always cover the keypad when you are putting in your PIN number. (Pretend someone is looking over your shoulder.) Also, if you ever see a second slot at an ATM that says, “Slide card here first,” don’t use that ATM. Chances are it’s a piece of skimming equipment. Card skimming is the #1 type of ATM fraud. Right now police are trying to capture a gang of Romanian thieves who are behind 90% of the ATM fraud in the UK.
ATM Card Grabbing
One of the other common ATM scams is one in which a criminal will install a piece of hardware on an ATM which will eat your ATM card. They will be standing close by, pretend to be helpful, and urge you to enter your PIN again so that they can see it. When you walk away to tell the bank, they will get your card and use it. Don’t ever enter your PIN in front of a stranger.
Fake ATM’s
In some countries, there are even fake ATM’s set up. They don’t dispense money, but what they do is steal all of your information. It’s best to never use an ATM that isn’t at a banking institution.
Cash Trapping
Thieves are getting really good with their ATM scams and are even now using cash trapping equipment. The ATM will dispense your cash, but you won’t be able to get it. Once you walk inside the bank, the thief will remove the equipment and take your cash. If you don’t receive your money, it’s best to call the bank from your cell phone to alert them to what is happening. Don’t walk away without your cash!
If you follow these tips, you should be able to avoid the fraud that happens with most ATM scams.
Do you know of other ATM scams? Let us know in the comments below!
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Great tips, it’s definitely best to use atm’s at a bank in the enclosed areas, not the on the street style atms.
Devlin @ Marginal Boundaries recently posted…Saying Goodbye To Cancun
Thank you for sharing all of this helpful hints. I will start to be more cautious.
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted…INTERVIEW: Jeff Greenwald, World’s 1st Travel Blogger & Founder of Ethical Traveler
Be aware of ATM Scams in the Philippines too.
The thing is they are not setup by Filipinos, the are installed by other foreigners.
The last from an Italian. Its not a big problem yet, but be aware!
Robert recently posted…Mount Pinatubo
Very good to know. Thank you!
I really like the new ATMs in Europe where you have to slide your card to enter and are locked in. I’ve never had any incident, but they just feel safer than ATMs on the street.
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Thanks for the tips and the heads up. I am in London at the moment and have decided to never use any atms that are not at the bank, I feel you are much less likely to get scammed at a reputable bank.
Good idea!! After all my warnings, I just tried multiple times at an ATM that kept declining my card. I just found out it was still deducting the balance from my account even though I was getting no money. I am now left with a 0 balance in my account and am having to wait for my bank to try to speak to a Guatemalan bank to iron it out. Crazy!!
ATM card grabbing sounds like a bit of an obvious nightmare. Although someone may catch you off guard when pretending to be helpful, standing over you as you plug in your PIN is a tip off.