PEOPLE falling victim to scams and all sorts of crimes that deprive them of their hard-earned money at ATMs, is nothing new.
A lot of local residents have already become very conscious of their surrounding when at ATMs.
SAPS gives these tips to help residents protect themselves.
Tips:
Be alert and conscious of your surroundings when using an ATM.
Never give your card or PIN (Personal Identification Number) to anyone, for any reason.
Don’t write your PIN on the card or anything that’s kept with the card.
Don’t insert your card until asked to do so by the display screen.
Never use an ATM with a blank screen and if the ATM is obscured from view or poorly lit, leave immediately and find another ATM.
Stand close to the ATM and use your body and hand as a shield, to make sure nobody sees you keying in your pin.
Make sure to keep your hand over the card slot, so that nobody can swap or take your card.
Never accept help from strangers when using an ATM. You should be wary of strangers asking for help.
Criminals work in teams – one to distract you, while the other steals your card or money.
If your card is retained (‘swallowed’) by the ATM, it’s advisable to phone your bank’s toll-free stop card line immediately and stop your card.
Never allow bystanders to call the toll-free stop card line on your behalf – they could be tricking you into thinking your card has been stopped.
Guards are placed at ATMs to discourage criminal activities and therefore can’t help you with transactions.
If you need help, ask a bank official.
It’s advisable to set a daily ATM withdrawal limit at your branch.
