A resident from Pretoria North warns the community to be vigilant when using an ATM after her bank card was stolen and she was left penniless.
Nicky Nel says she was withdrawing cash from the ATM at the BP petrol station in Karel Trichard Street, Mountain View on 4 June around 18:00 when a “Good Samaritan” approached her.
“The well-dressed man in front of me came out of the ATM booth and said something to me. I honestly wasn’t paying attention and went into the booth,” Nel said.
“The ATM gave me a notification that I could only withdraw R2 000 but I wanted to withdraw more. I decided to cancel the transaction to rather go withdraw somewhere else.
“Out of the blue, the man approached me inside of the ATM booth and said I could increase the amount of withdrawal by pressing the button on the top left.”
When Nel pressed the button, the ATM machine requested her cellphone number.
She then cancelled the transaction to rather go and withdraw at another ATM.
“I first thought the ATM had swallowed my bank card. I kept pressing the cancel button until I realised my bank card had just been stolen.”
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Within a short time Nel received an SMS alert of a withdrawal of her bank account.
“He drew everything in my account (R2 500)”.
Nel said she phoned the bank to alert them to what had just happened.
“They said I can open a case, but I cannot even remember what the man looked like.”
Nel says she did not open a case because she cannot remember what the man looked like.
“I know one should be vigilant when withdrawing money at the ATM, but honestly I didn’t think the properly dressed man would rob me”
The owner of the BP petrol station, who wishes to remain anonymous confirmed it was not the first time that clients making use of the ATM on the premises were scammed and robbed.
He said he has asked his staff in the past to be very vigilant for unwanted persons hanging around at the petrol station and chase them away.
The owner also urged clients making use of the ATM to be vigilant and not accept help from friendly strangers.
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