Newcastle SAPS investigates ATM fraud
The victim later received an SMS informing him that money had been withdrawn from his account.
Newcastle SAPS investigates ATM fraud –
Newcastle Detectives are looking into a case of fraud, following an incident on John Parks Road, Pioneer Park on April 29 at around 10:00.
According to Lizzy Arumugam, from Newcastle SAPS Corporate Communications, the complainant was withdrawing money from an ATM when a suspect approached and pressed buttons on the keypad.
The complainant later received an SMS informing him that money had been withdrawn from his account. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
When using an ATM, stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Never, under any circumstances, give your card or personal identification number (PIN) to anyone.”
Arumugam provided some safety tips to help residents avoid becoming a card cloning statistic:
- Do not write your PIN on the bank card or on any paper/document/card kept with it
- Do not insert your card until the display screen prompts you to do so
- Never use an ATM with a blank screen or loose keyboard/card slot – if the screen is obscured or poorly lit, leave immediately and find another ATM
- Stand close to the ATM and use your body and hand as a shield, to prevent anyone from seeing you enter your PIN
- Keep your hand over the card slot to prevent anyone from ‘swiping’ or taking your card
- When using an ATM, never accept assistance from strangers – be wary of anyone who approaches you for assistance
- Criminals often work in groups, with one distracting you while the other steals your card or money
- If your card is ‘swallowed’ or retained by the ATM, call your bank’s toll-free line immediately and cancel the card
Never allow a bystander to call the toll-free stop card line on your behalf; they may mislead you into believing your card has been stopped.”
- Guards are stationed at ATMs to deter criminal activity and as a result, cannot assist you with transactions
- If you require assistance, rather contact a bank official
- It is recommended you set a daily ATM withdrawal limit at your branch
- Be crime aware – crime can strike at potentially any time.
The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550).
