A masterclass in deception – how I fell victim to ATM fraud

I’ve never considered myself an easy target for the criminal element, let alone fraudsters that trade in deception. I may not be deeply suspicious by nature, but my inner alarm bells are easily set off, and I’ve been warned many times about dodgy characters stealing other people’s hard-earned money at ATMs. Despite all this, I was still swindled – and all I could think was, “damn that was fast”.

“…but he was so well dressed and so well-spoken”

I stepped up to the ATM, and tried inserting my card. It didn’t go in the whole way, so the elderly gentleman (and I mean that quite literally) behind me came to my aid and said, “Yes, sometimes it does that. You just need to push it a little.” Causally, he pulled the card out and immediately reinserted it the whole way. I watched his hand closely – the whole time. My card never left my sight.

I wasn’t terribly happy with the situation, and should have walked away. But he was mature in years, well dressed and well-spoken, and seemed completely genuine – like I said, a perfect gentleman.

He stepped back into the queue, and I was given space to complete my withdrawal. I entered my PIN and it came back as “incorrect”. I should have known better – I did know better, right? I tried it one more time, and then cancelled the transaction. I stood for a moment, turning it over in my mind: Did he steal my card and replace it with a dummy? How could he; it never left my sight? He was an elderly gentleman just trying to be helpful…

In the time it took me to get back to my car and call the “Stop Card” number, a considerable sum had already been withdrawn.

He had indeed swapped out my card, and had an associate watch me type in my PIN. I was floored. Damn, that was quick.

An expensive lesson

The truth is that these ATM fraudsters are beyond skilful, and will swap your valid card with one of theirs in the blink of an eye. Then he, or his associate, will watch you enter your PIN, and before you know it, your balance has dropped by your daily draw limit. These guys (and women, too) present themselves as model citizens, just trying to help you out. Moreover, their fraudulent techniques are manifold, including: card skimming; swapping of cards; ATM shoulder surfing (where an innocuous bystander watches you enter your PIN), and; trapping cards inside ATMs in order to retrieve them later.

It seems that each con is meticulously planned and executed with supreme finesse. In short, they’re simply masters of deception.

And if you think it couldn’t happen to you – you’re too smart, after all – you may learn an expensive and deeply unpleasant lesson.

Advice from the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC)

Protect yourself as best possible with these tips from the banking fraud authority, SABRIC:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Do not use the ATM if there are loiterers or suspicious people in the vicinity. Also take note that fraudsters are often well dressed, well-spoken and respectable looking
• If you are disturbed or interfered with whilst transacting at the ATM, your card may be skimmed without your knowledge. Cancel the transaction immediately and report the incident using your bank’s “Stop Card” toll free number (displayed on all ATMs)
• Should you have been disturbed whilst transacting, immediately stop the card
• Never transact at an ATM that looks faulty
• Never accept a stranger’s assistance, and never let them touch your card
• Beware of “shoulder surfing”