Footage showing just how ATM scammers operate has gone viral on the internet.
In the closed circuit television video, which was posted in August but has only gone viral now, the scammer can be seen working his mischief. In the video, there are two ATMs from different banks. The scammer approaches the ATM on the right, while another man is using the ATM on the left. He tries (unsuccessfully) to strike up a conversation with the man.
The man then leaves, and so does the scammer. The scammer returns after a while, standing in line in front of an elderly couple. He doesn’t withdraw any money, and instead pretends that the ATM isn’t working.
He leaves the queue, but offers assistance to the elderly couple. For a few minutes he pretends to try and help the couple, but looking over the man’s shoulder every time he presses a button, or enters his PIN.
Hannes du Buisson, head of the Lyttelton Sector 3 community policing forum (CPF) and Centurion Concerned Citizens, said: “This video shows just how these criminals work. The man in the video is neatly dressed, and has a bag of groceries with him. He seems innocent enough, as if he really just wants to help.”
Towards the end of the video, the man had stolen the couple’s bank card, got the PIN, and left. Within minutes of leaving he had apparently withdrawn thousands of rands with their card.
“This video makes it clear that ATM scamming is still a big problem, and that people still need to be careful when going to an ATM. Never accept help if someone offers it at an ATM, they are most likely trying to scam you,” said Du Buisson.
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