Britain’s ATM pandemic, with victims scammed out of £1,000 after receiving cash
BRITISH people are being warned about ATM scams in Britain that could see their money disappearing within minutes.
ATM scammers have claimed several victims in Hertfordshire, with one losing £700 while still at the cash machine.
Britons pull out ATMs and – using a host of barely-there tricks – crooks make their money disappear in a flash.
In Hitchin, a woman tried to withdraw money but saw the machine eat her card and read a message on the screen saying it was unavailable, reports This is money.
While still at the cash machine, she called her bank, trying to find out what had happened, and minutes later saw two cash withdrawals of £350 from a nearby cash machine.
She then noticed a fourth attempt being made, but luckily the card was blocked before it could go through.
In a second case, a victim used her card in Hertford and was asked to enter a six-digit security code which she entered and watched as the money left her account.
A third case was then recorded when a broken card was used eight times by thieves in Hoddesdon, and a fourth case, as in St Albans.
Detective Sergeant Mark Fava, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: ‘It appears these thefts are committed by placing a discreet device over the card slot of the machine, which scans the card details, transmits the data to the criminal and then blocks the card. will be returned.”
DS Fava advised Britons – if their card is held by an ATM – to ‘cancel or suspend’ their bank card immediately.
It’s not the only scam trying to cheat Brits out of their hard-earned money, and below is an overview of the scams to look out for.
iPod scam
A TikToker has released a video explaining a scam where criminals use an iPod to record innocent people as they enter their details and withdraw money.
Thieves mount the MP3 players on the roof of ATMs and use the recording function to film customers entering their PIN.
The iPod is hidden in a piece of plastic specially designed to stand out, with the lens filming through an almost imperceptible opening.
They then double down on the scam by placing a piece of plastic over the card reader, which is designed to capture the victim’s card.
When the victim walks away, the criminals remove the card and withdraw cash from the account using the PIN code they recorded on the iPod.
Diversion scam
The nasty trick involves a diversion technique where crooks claim the PIN of unsuspecting victims without them even knowing.
Scammers work in pairs to commit the fraud, with the first fraudster approaching an ATM where their victim is standing.
The thief then writes down the PIN, drops cash and taps the victim on the arm.
They then pretend to hand over the money and falsely claim that the ATM is not working.
While the victim is distracted, the second thief cancels the current transaction and steals their card, making them think their card has been eaten.
How to protect yourself from ATM fraud
Banking trade body UK Finance has the following advice to protect yourself from ATM fraud:
- Stand close to the ATM. Always shield the keyboard with your free hand and your body to prevent someone from seeing you enter your PIN code. This protects your PIN from anyone looking over your shoulder, and also helps keep your PIN safe if a fraudster has installed a hidden camera that films the keypad.
- Be alert and put your personal safety first. If someone is crowding you or looking at you, cancel the transaction and move to another machine. Don’t accept help from seemingly well-meaning strangers and never allow yourself to be distracted.
- Do not leave the ATM if your card has been withdrawn. Scammers sometimes place devices in ATMs that intercept your card, then retrieve it once you leave the area. If your card is held by the machine for any reason, report this to your card company immediately, preferably via your mobile phone while you are still in front of the machine. Make sure your card company’s 24-hour contact number is saved in your mobile phone. You must also block your card via your card issuer’s app if it offers this service.
- Do not use unreliable machines. If you notice anything unusual about the ATM, or if there are any signs of tampering, do not use it. Report it immediately to the bank in question.
- Destroy mini-statements. After you complete a transaction, put your money and your card away before leaving the ATM. Destroy or preferably shred your ATM receipts, mini statements or balance requests when you throw them away.
Hidden box scam
The crime is committed at dual-purpose ATMs, which have two identical-looking slots: one for withdrawals and one for deposits.
Scammers then place plastic covers over the withdrawal slots where your money is collected.
It misleads unsuspecting people into thinking that there is only one box for both deposits and withdrawals.
The plastic shell has a sneaky container that secretly collects your money, but it seems like the machine is just out of order and can’t process your request.
What to pay attention to when using an ATM
Check the receiving slot: Look closely at the slot and see if there is any noticeable damage, as that could be a sign of outside tampering.
Beware of hidden cameras: Anything that looks out of place or clutters the screen could be attached by criminals and contain miniature cameras that record you as you enter your PIN.
Check that the card reader is properly secured: Make sure the card reader does not look damaged, tampered or loose as it may house certain devices that collect data from the card while in the ATM.
Beware of fake keyboards: The same goes for the card reader: the fake keypads can be just as harmful. Signs that it’s fake are if it feels loose, thick, or spongy.
Check that nothing is attached to the outside of the machine: All ATMs generally have the same components: a piece of plastic that is out of place and stuck there may have been placed by scammers who have placed a hidden camera in it – which records your PIN and everything that appears on the screen .
Other tactics are used to fish for information and steal money, such as placing cameras in the machine’s audio jack.
A general way to stay safe is to just check the appearance of the machine. If you notice anything that looks like it doesn’t belong, don’t use it.
If you fall victim to the scam, call your bank immediately and block your card.
Using online banking is a great way to act quickly if you think (or know) that money is being taken from your account, as most banking apps allow you to freeze your card with the click of a button.
By doing this, you won’t have to spend time waiting to speak to bank staff while crooks quickly empty your account.
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