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Stay Safe

At cash dispensers

• Always try to go in daylight hours.
• Be aware of who is behind you.
• Turn your back so no one can see you enter your pin number.
• Never keep the PIN number on you, always memorise it.
• Do not count your cash in full view of strangers, put it straight away in an inside pocket or front trouser pocket.
• Do not accept assistance from well meaning strangers.
• Never allow yourself to be distracted whilst using the ATM. Stand close to it.
• Look carefully at the ATM before using it. If there is anything unusual about the cash machine, or there are signs of tampering do not use the machine and report it to the bank immediately.

Card skimming

Card skimming or cloning is a method used by criminals to obtain your details from your card. A device, created to look like the card entry point on the cash machine, is fitted over the genuine slot to passively skim the information encoded on the magnetic strip of the card. The details are stored and then used fraudulently.

The skimming device when fitted to the ATM is very difficult to detect as it looks like part of the ATM.

Shoulder surfing

Once your details have been obtained the fraudster’s will focus on getting hold of your Personal Identification Number. PINs can be obtained in two ways. Firstly by shoulder surfing, whereby the fraudster will tailgate behind you and look over your shoulder as you enter your number.

A second method is by the use of a micro camera which can be installed in the lighting or false trunking on a cash machine to focus on PIN entry. Real-time images are then transmitted to a receiver attached to a hand held camera, typically within 100 metres of the cash machine. The details will then be matched to the corresponding card data.

With all these details obtained it gives unlimited access to your bank account and can be emptied quickly.

Don't stand for it

Any suspicious activity at or near any cash machine should be reported to the police immediately. Any suspicions about cash machines should also be reported, either to the bank or building society, or to the police if out of business hours.

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