The Common Real ATM Theft Scams
1.The Lebanese Loop
Many thieves are using external devices to confiscate your card. In this scam, a blocking device (which can be as simple as somefilm glued to trap ATM cards), is inserted into the card slot of the ATM machine. Unwittingly, you place your card into the machineand enter your PIN. All the while, someone nearby may be watching you enter your PIN number.
A very common reaction is to go into the bank to report your confiscated card. Now the thieves jump into action.They remove the blocking device, along with your trapped ATM card and withdraw money from your account.
The way the scammers use the Lebanese Loop can vary. Often, once your ATM card is trapped, a”Good Samaritan” will show up and offer advice on how to get your card back. They may suggest that you enter your PIN number a couple of times.They might also offer to hold the cancel button while you enter your PIN. What they’re really doing is memorizing your PIN number. They’re certainly not Samaritans at all!
2.Card Skimming
Skimmers are devices added to ATM machines to capture your card’s information, including your account number, balance,and PIN number.These devices, often mounted along side a machine and labeled ‘card cleaners,’ are difficult to notice unless you’re looking for them.
You may also find card skimmers mounted beside the normal ATM card slot with a sign that says,”slide card here first.” Sometimesthey are even mounted right on top of where you would normally enter your card. Skimmers can actually collect ands tore up to 200 ATM cards before they need to be removed by thieves.
3.Shoulder Surfing,Fake PIN Pads, and Even Fake Machines Another way to glean your ATM PIN number is for thieves to mount a wireless video camera inside the ATM area.It can look as harmless as a brochure holder.Once the scammers have your number,magnetic strips are easy to make and thieves areable to easily reproduce ATM cards.
In addition to using cameras to collect PIN numbers,thieves have designed fake PIN pads that they place on top of the original ATM PIN pad. Unfortunately, with fake PIN pads, your ATM transaction will proceed normally and you won’t know a scammer has stolen anything until it’s too late.
Thieves have also taken to occasionally putting up fake ATMmachines in and around shopping centers and other public locations.Upon placing your card into the card reader,these machines collect your ATM PIN and account information.They do not dispense cash. Rather,a screen comes up that says that the machine is out of money or out of order.
4.Cash Trapping.
Similar to the Lebanese Loop where a thin sleeve traps your card,this time your cash is trapped by a sleeve or device slipped inside the cash dispenser.Your transaction will operate normally, but you won’t receive the cash you’ve withdrawn.
Chances are you’ll either walk or drive away assuming the machine is out of order or you’ll go inside the bank and report the incident. Either way, you have left the machine and the thieves can walk up,remove the device,and your cash.
5.Phishing
We mentioned above how easy it is for thieves to replicate ATM cards.All they need is a magnetic strip and a plastic card.Armed with an ATM card,all a would-be thief needs is a PIN number.
Tips to Help You Protect Yourself From ATM Theft:
1.Get in the habit of using the same ATM machine for your transactions.Become familiar with it and be able to recognize changes to the machine.
2.Use ATM machines inside banks rather than on the street (where they’re easier for thieves to access).
3.If you’re visiting an unfamiliar ATM machine that is not inside a bank,examine it carefully for devices.Card or cash trapping devices need to be glued or taped to the card reader or cash dispenser.Look for ‘extra’ cameras beyond the basic and generally obvious ATM security camera.
4.Never rely on the help of strangers to retrieve a confiscated card.
5.Never use an ATM machine when other people are lingering.
6.Report confiscated cards immediately. If you can, don’t leave the machine. Instead call the bank from the ATM where your card was taken using a cell phone.
7.Don’t use ATM machines with extra signage or warnings posted on the machine.
8.Never follow a link in a supposed bank email notice. If you are wondering if your bank has really contacted you via email,then close the email and directly type your bank’s website address into your browser.Visit your account and look for update notices directly on your account or bank’s website.The email is almost always a phishing scam.
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