Family Defense Strategy - ATM

ATM

Always be careful when using an ATM. Use it in daylight during a time when people are normally in the area. Take a quick look around for anyone that looks suspicious. Be aware of where people are and what they are doing. Be aware of people who are looking around for other who may witness their crime. Be aware of people who are standing around but approach the machine after you have approached it. If people get too close, leave the machine.

Hide the keyboard when entering your PIN; people may be watching with binoculars from a distance. If anything is out of the ordinary about the machine, do not use it. One ploy is for the thief to put a sticky substance in the card slot so your card will not come back out. A note attached to the machine may say that if you card hangs up to reenter your PIN a few times. After a few tries, you will probably leave and contact the bank the next day. Meanwhile, the thief has watched you enter you your PIN. When you leave. he/she uses needle nose pliers to pull you card out of the slot. Then he/she goes to another ATM and uses the card and your PIN to clean out all your accounts.

Another ploy is for an out of order sigh to be hung on the machine with instructions to leave any deposits with the bank guard. A very clean-cut, polite, and courteous person wearing an official looking police type uniform will be standing next to the machine with an official looking drop box for you to drop you deposit into. As you will later discover, the "guard" was a thief and now has your money.