ATM theft is on the rise in Ladysmith, with several people reportedly being robbed by ATM scammers in town recently.

Watch this video to see how easy it is to be scammed and the reason you should never draw money alone at an ATM.

Take someone with you and if anyone offers to help, press cancel and remove your card. Check it is your card before you leave.

The most important lesson to be learned is never trust anyone close to an ATM. Almost all non-electronic scamming is done by a person offering to help. Either with a card not fitting into the machine or because they have activated cardless banking.

• Review your account statements on a timely basis; query disputed transactions with your bank immediately.
• When shopping online, only place orders with your card on a secure website.
• Do not send e-mails that quote your card number and expiry date.
• Ensure that you get your own card back after every purchase.
• Never write down your PIN or disclose it to anyone.
• Report lost and stolen cards immediately.
• Destroy your credit card receipts before discarding them.
• Never let the card out of your sight when making payments.
• Sign your card on the signature panel as soon as you receive it to stop anyone else from taking ownership or trying to use it.
• Your credit card is not transferable. Only the person whose name appears on the front of the card is authorised to use it. This is the same with your debit cards, even though they don’t contain your name on the front of the card.
• If you have a debit, cheque and credit card, don’t choose the same PIN for all of them, so that if you lose one, the others will still be safe.
• Chip Credit cards also require a PIN for transactions at points of sale (paying for goods/services).
• Protect your cards as if they were cash. Never let them out of your sight and ensure that you get them back after every purchase.
• Always check transaction slips for correct purchase amounts before you sign them.
• Keep your transaction slips and check them against your statement to spot any suspicious transactions and query them immediately.
• Make a list of all your cards and their numbers and store in a safe place.
• While transacting, always keep an eye on the ATM card slot to ensure that your card is not taken out, skimmed and replaced without your knowledge.
• Should your card be retained by an ATM, contact your bank and block your card before you leave the ATM.
• Subscribe to your bank’s SMS notification services; this will inform you of any activity on your account.
• Keep your bank’s anti-card fraud number on hand at all time.

ABSA Bank: If your card is lost or stolen, or it is retained or jammed, or somebody interferes with you while using an ATM, you should immediately call the Absa Stop Card Line (011 501 5050 or 0800 11 11 55) to report it and cancel your card.

Capitec Bank: Has your debit card been lost or stolen? Please contact the Client Care Centre on +27 719 075 063 now to report the matter.

FNB: Please immediately phone the FNB Card Cancellations Call Centre: 0800 110 132 or +27 11 369 1189 (international). You can also phone the Visa Global Customer Care Assistance number: 0800 990 475.

Nedbank Bank:  If your card is lost or stolen or is retained in an ATM, report it immediately to 0800 110 929. Criminals typically transact with a card within 40 to 50 seconds after it has been stolen. Prevention is the best policy.

Standard Bank: Report the card immediately by calling the lost card call centre on 0800 020 600

Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or  for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!