With more than 1.5 million Automated Teller Machines around the world, most of us simply take our ATM cards (debit and credit cards) for granted. Unfortunately, thieves know this and use it to their advantage; so ATM card theft is a big problem.

In fact, as the ATM banking technology advances so too do the thieves. They have become so clever in their crimes that you may well not see them coming. The good news is that there are easy ways to protect yourself from ATM theft.

ScamBuster highlight five common ATM scams and how to avoid them. Since knowledge is power, ScamBuster also offer eight tips on recognising and avoiding these scams.

Common question about ATM

This is one of the most common questions about ATM machines: Does entering your PIN in reverse really summon the police?

The answer is no. This is a common mistake. Although this concept seems like a good idea, and a system was actually designed to notify the police by a Chicago businessman (so there is a grain of truth to this urban legend), but no such system has been implemented.

The banking industry is not interested in the technology because of the cost and because they don’t believe it will work. Imagine trying to remember you PIN backwards with a thief pointing a gun at your head.

So, simply delete these email hoaxes and don’t spread them to your friends.

According to www.allclearid.com , here are five common ATM theft scams you need to avoid

The Lebanese Loop
Many thieves are using external devices to confiscate your card. In this scam, a blocking device (which can be as simple as some film glued to trap the ATM cards), is inserted into the card slot of the ATM machine. Unwittingly, you place your card into the machine and enter your PIN. All the while, someone nearby may be watching you enter your PIN.

A very common reaction is to go into the bank to report your confiscated card. Now, the thieves jump into action. They remove the blocking device, along with your trapped ATM card and withdraw money from your account.

The way the scammers use the Lebanese Loop can vary. Often, once your ATM card is trapped, a “Good Samaritan” will show up and offer advice on how to get your card back. They may suggest that you enter your PIN number a couple of times.

They may also offer to hold the cancel button while you enter your PIN. What they’re really doing is memorising your PIN. They’re certainly not Samaritans at all!

Card skimming
Skimmers are devices added to ATM machines to capture your card’s information, including your account number, balance and PIN. These devices, often mounted alongside a machine and labelled ‘card cleaners,’ are difficult to notice unless you’re looking for them.

You may also find card skimmers mounted beside the normal ATM card slot with a sign that says, “Slide card here first.” Sometimes they are even mounted right on top of where you would normally enter your card. Skimmers can actually collect and store up to 200 ATM cards before they need to be removed by thieves.

Shoulder surfing, fake PIN pads, and even fake machines
Another way to glean your ATM PIN is for thieves to mount a wireless video camera inside the ATM area. It can look as harmless as a brochure holder. Once the scammers have your number, magnetic strips are easy to make and thieves are able to easily reproduce ATM cards.

In addition to using cameras to collect PINs, thieves have designed fake PIN pads that they place on top of the original ATM PIN pad.

Unfortunately, with fake PIN pads, your ATM transaction will proceed normally and you won’t know a scammer has stolen anything until it’s too late.

Thieves have also taken to occasionally putting up fake ATM machines in and around shopping centres and other public locations. Upon placing your card into the card reader, these machines collect your ATM PIN and account information. They do not dispense cash. Rather, a screen comes up that says that the machine is out of money or out of order.

Cash trapping
Similar to the Lebanese Loop where a thin sleeve traps your card, this time your cash is trapped by a sleeve or device slipped inside the cash dispenser. Your transaction will operate normally, but you won’t receive the cash you’ve withdrawn.

Chances are you’ll either walk or drive away assuming the machine is out of order or you’ll go inside the bank and report the incident. Either way, you have left the machine and the thieves can walk up, remove the device, and your cash.

Phishing
We mentioned above how easy it is for thieves to replicate ATM cards. All they need is a magnetic strip and a plastic card. Armed with an ATM card, all a would-be thief needs is a PIN. Some email phishing scams have been designed to find out just that.

Representing your bank, a scammer can send you an email with a notice on it saying something about incomplete account information or that you need to update your account information. You click on the link and follow the directions but you’re not at your bank, you’re at a site designed to look like your bank by thieves. They collect your information and are free to replicate your ATM card or simply withdraw money from your account via online banking.

Source :
https://www.punchng.com/five-common-atm-scams-avoid/amp/

noted

lalasticlala , Mynd44

Hyigfnvfd

We learn everyday.

1.5million pere... Round the world... I'm really doubting that figure

6. Avoid or caution neck-stretchers; while you are busy typing your ATM pin, beware of the dudes behind you, some are ready to memorize your code like you're gonna drop the card after transaction.

#positivevibes

With all these revelations, should the typical mainstream ATM users avoid using their ATM cards now?

How do one explain 'phishing', 'hacking' etc to one Iya Basira, Chief Emeka or Malam Usman that do their respective legitimate trades but need to use the ATM to get funds out whenever they need or deposit their hard-earned funds?

Shouldn't the banks be in the fore-front in efforts to curb these types of crimes? Should everyone go to the ATM suspicious of the machine itself and anyone in a queue with him/her?

ijebuloaded:
With more than 1.5 million Automated Teller Machines around the world, most of us simply take our ATM cards (debit and credit cards) for granted. Unfortunately, thieves know this and use it to their advantage; so ATM card theft is a big problem.

In fact, as the ATM banking technology advances so too do the thieves. They have become so clever in their crimes that you may well not see them coming. The good news is that there are easy ways to protect yourself from ATM theft.

ScamBuster highlight five common ATM scams and how to avoid them. Since knowledge is power, ScamBuster also offer eight tips on recognising and avoiding these scams.

Common question about ATM

This is one of the most common questions about ATM machines: Does entering your PIN in reverse really summon the police?

The answer is no. This is a common mistake. Although this concept seems like a good idea, and a system was actually designed to notify the police by a Chicago businessman (so there is a grain of truth to this urban legend), but no such system has been implemented.

The banking industry is not interested in the technology because of the cost and because they don’t believe it will work. Imagine trying to remember you PIN backwards with a thief pointing a gun at your head.

So, simply delete these email hoaxes and don’t spread them to your friends.

According to www.allclearid.com , here are five common ATM theft scams you need to avoid

The Lebanese Loop
Many thieves are using external devices to confiscate your card. In this scam, a blocking device (which can be as simple as some film glued to trap the ATM cards), is inserted into the card slot of the ATM machine. Unwittingly, you place your card into the machine and enter your PIN. All the while, someone nearby may be watching you enter your PIN.

A very common reaction is to go into the bank to report your confiscated card. Now, the thieves jump into action. They remove the blocking device, along with your trapped ATM card and withdraw money from your account.

The way the scammers use the Lebanese Loop can vary. Often, once your ATM card is trapped, a “Good Samaritan” will show up and offer advice on how to get your card back. They may suggest that you enter your PIN number a couple of times.

They may also offer to hold the cancel button while you enter your PIN. What they’re really doing is memorising your PIN. They’re certainly not Samaritans at all!

Card skimming
Skimmers are devices added to ATM machines to capture your card’s information, including your account number, balance and PIN. These devices, often mounted alongside a machine and labelled ‘card cleaners,’ are difficult to notice unless you’re looking for them.

You may also find card skimmers mounted beside the normal ATM card slot with a sign that says, “Slide card here first.” Sometimes they are even mounted right on top of where you would normally enter your card. Skimmers can actually collect and store up to 200 ATM cards before they need to be removed by thieves.

Shoulder surfing, fake PIN pads, and even fake machines
Another way to glean your ATM PIN is for thieves to mount a wireless video camera inside the ATM area. It can look as harmless as a brochure holder. Once the scammers have your number, magnetic strips are easy to make and thieves are able to easily reproduce ATM cards.

In addition to using cameras to collect PINs, thieves have designed fake PIN pads that they place on top of the original ATM PIN pad.

Unfortunately, with fake PIN pads, your ATM transaction will proceed normally and you won’t know a scammer has stolen anything until it’s too late.

Thieves have also taken to occasionally putting up fake ATM machines in and around shopping centres and other public locations. Upon placing your card into the card reader, these machines collect your ATM PIN and account information. They do not dispense cash. Rather, a screen comes up that says that the machine is out of money or out of order.

Cash trapping
Similar to the Lebanese Loop where a thin sleeve traps your card, this time your cash is trapped by a sleeve or device slipped inside the cash dispenser. Your transaction will operate normally, but you won’t receive the cash you’ve withdrawn.

Chances are you’ll either walk or drive away assuming the machine is out of order or you’ll go inside the bank and report the incident. Either way, you have left the machine and the thieves can walk up, remove the device, and your cash.

Phishing
We mentioned above how easy it is for thieves to replicate ATM cards. All they need is a magnetic strip and a plastic card. Armed with an ATM card, all a would-be thief needs is a PIN. Some email phishing scams have been designed to find out just that.

Representing your bank, a scammer can send you an email with a notice on it saying something about incomplete account information or that you need to update your account information. You click on the link and follow the directions but you’re not at your bank, you’re at a site designed to look like your bank by thieves. They collect your information and are free to replicate your ATM card or simply withdraw money from your account via online banking.

Source :
https://www.punchng.com/five-common-atm-scams-avoid/amp/

Thank you op....Its been noted

another way don show o..

No wonder the richest men don't use ATM cards!!

These ATM scammers fit operate easily abroad but e go tey and no go dey easy to operate in Nigeria because their Technology gidi gan!

People still dey queue to withdraw at Atm gallery upon recession.. hope no be there sins dem they withdraw so

So what about this set of people?




Etinanguy



Una neva chi chum chin

Not applicable to naija, this is how we roll: 'Dear customer due to BVN upgrade you ATM card has been blocked kindly call our customer care on 080***** to unblock it'

now... I wonder how all this will be possible in Nigeria...

Scammers everywhere

Very good one there. God bless the op and the mod that push this to its rightful place.

SweetBoyFriend:

Story for the gods

You think you can escape ATM scam ??

Those guys have updated from physically touching/seeing your wallet to digitally ripping you off

These ATM cards are nonsense, as far as it has a chip in it, your story will be different it a scammer walks by you with some device in his pocket

There are no theives or criminals in Africa, go to Russia, India and the USA, those guys eat and breath scam

You have not made any point

Op are you in Nigeria

eezeribe:


You have not made any point

I will burst a nut in your mouth

Noted

sandraanakebe:
Thank you op....Its been noted

And you had to highlight the whole post just to say thank.....Ode

Very informative
Many ways people cutting corners out of recession and unemployment. Blame this evil ingenuity on our leaders

All the methods mentioned apart from the last- "phishing" can only be done by a bank staff or ATM operator, things like card skimmers, fake PIN pads, cash trapping device on ATMs and placing fake ATM can only be done by a bank staff, you can't just walk up to an ATM, open it up and install such devices if you are not the ATM operator, and of all these methods mentioned we don't stand a chance to decode it so I don't find this article really enlightening.

The funniest is the one of someone placing a fake ATM, if you can buy a fully functional ATM, place it in a public area successfully without suspicion and find a way to connect it to the banking network grid and make it functional then with such skills you don't need to be stealing ATM pins to make money.

Of all those methods mentioned except phishing there is a rare possibility of an average ATM user decoding it, you won't even know.

BabylonCruise:

And you had to highlight the whole post just to say thank.....Ode

Onye iberibe...mumu, why didnt u close your eyes and skip my comment? Oluku

Some

sandraanakebe:


Onye iberibe...mumu, why didnt u close your eyes and skip my comment? Oluku

AFO ANU.....are you sure you are ready to battle words with me....just be ready for night. EWU....with capital letter.

sandraanakebe:


Onye iberibe...mumu, why didnt u close your eyes and skip my comment? Oluku

AFO ANU.....are you sure you are ready to battle words with me....just be ready for nightmare. EWU....with capital letter.