ATM safety – Here’s what you need to know
VRYHEID Neighbourhood Watch, while on patrol on Saturday night, interrupted two young males whom they believed to be tampering with the Automated Tellers Machines at Pick 'n' Pay.
VRYHEID Neighbourhood Watch, while on patrol on Saturday night, interrupted two young males whom they believed to be tampering with the Automated Tellers Machines at Pick ‘n’ Pay.
Between 11pm and midnight, the patrollers spotted the two alleged suspects with several bank cards, attempting to draw money, using these cards, which they believed were stolen.
The two men fled the scene and the patrollers gave chase, but no arrests were made, and no confirmation was given that the cards were, in fact, stolen.
The official SAPS website, www.saps.gov.za, offers the following tips regarding ATM safety:
Safety Tips at the ATM:
– Be alert and conscious of your surroundings when using the 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 is kept with the card.
– Do not 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 you keep your hand over the card slot to make sure nobody can swap or take your card.
– Never accept help from strangers when using an ATM. You should be wary of strangers asking to 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 is advisable to phone your bank’s toll-free stop card line immediately and stop your card.
– Never allow a bystander 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 cannot help you with transactions.
– If you need help, ask a bank official.
– It is advisable to set a daily ATM withdrawal limit at your branch.
Also Read: Robbers Target ATM’s
Explosions at ATMs:
Automated Teller Machine explosions are a relatively new crime. Since their initial inception in 2006, the incidence of explosions at ATMs have spiralled, with Vryheid experiencing at least two ATM bombings in recent memory.
When approaching the ATM and it has been damaged, report to 10111 immediately in the following cases:
– If an ATM has been damaged or if any unknown items protrude from it.
– If smoke or flames are visible at or in the machine as this is a sure sign of a pending explosion. (Also move away from the ATM immediately)
– In case of suspicious activity/persons at or near an ATM.
– Once the charges have been activated, there is nothing that can be done to deactivate the explosives.
– Shrapnel and debris from an explosion can travel for several hundred metres.
– People must be moved away as far as possible and take cover behind something solid, such as a building.
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