Festive season: ATM fraud tips to keep criminals at bay

With the country ushering into the festive season, opportunistic criminals will be attempting every trick to defraud your hard-earned money.

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) has provided tips to avoid being a victim of ATM fraud this festive season.

FESTIVE SEASON ATM FRAUD HELPFUL TIPS

DO’S:
• Be alert to your surroundings. Do not use the ATM if there are loiterers or suspicious people in the vicinity. Be aware that fraudsters are often well-dressed, well-spoken and respectable-looking individuals.
• If you are disturbed while transacting at the ATM, your card may possibly be skimmed by being removed and placed back into the ATM without your knowledge. Cancel the transaction immediately and report the incident using your Bank’s Stop Card Toll-free number, which is displayed on all ATMs, as well as on the back of your bank card.
• After successfully transacting at the ATM, leave immediately. Be cautious of strangers requesting you to return to the ATM to finalise any transaction as skimming may occur during this request.

“𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐓𝐌, 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐓𝐌 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤.”

SABRIC

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DON’TS:
• Never force your card into the slot if you experience initial difficulty, as it might have been tampered with.
• If your card is swallowed by the ATM, do not leave the ATM before you have cancelled your card.
TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR PIN:
• Your PIN is your personal key to secure banking, and it is crucial to keep it confidential.
• Memorise your PIN, never write it down or share it with anyone, not even with a family member or a bank official.
• Key in your PIN yourself in such a way that no one else can see it, for example, cover your hand that is punching the numbers even when alone at the ATM, as some criminals may place secret cameras to observe your PIN.

TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR CASH

• Some fraudsters wait until you have drawn your cash to take advantage. Be wary of people loitering around the ATM and ensure that you are not followed.
• Be cautious of strangers requesting that you return to the ATM to finalise/close the transaction because they are unable to transact. Skimming may occur during this request.
• Never allow your children to draw money using your card, since they’re the most vulnerable to perpetrators.

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