Sunday, November 28, 2010

ATM Fraud getting more sophisticated...


ATM fraud has gotten more sophisticated over the years. I've attached a link from Yahoo Finance on ATM Fraud.


Tips to Stay Safe [source: Yahoo! Finance]

Here are some tips to keep in mind next time you go to withdraw cash:

• Be picky about what ATMs you use. "Don't go up to an ATM in a dark place," Krebs said. "Find one that's in a well-lit area, publicly visible and not tucked away somewhere."

• Trust your instincts. If something doesn't look right or feel right, move on to the next ATM. "Victims have said that they had a feeling when they were using the machines that something wasn't right," said Javelin's Vamosi.

• As you key in your PIN, cover the keyboard with the other hand to block anyone or a camera from seeing.

• Don't use ATMs with unusual signage or instructions, such as a command to enter your PIN twice to complete a transaction.

• Use ATMs with which you're familiar. If you travel, stick to ATMs at a bank branch. "Using a stand-alone ATM is like playing Russian roulette, especially in major metropolitan cities," said Robert Siciliano, a McAfee consultant and founder of IDTheftSecurity.com.

So how can you tell if an ATM has been altered with a skimming device or camera?

A lot of skimming devices are "stuck onto the machine or nearby with Velcro or two-sided tape," Siciliano said.

Keypads that aren't concave, for example, could have overlays that flatten or pull the surface of the keys out. A card-reader slot might have a perfectly molded attachment over it that pops off. Some skimmers are custom-made with matching molding and a color that corresponds to a targeted ATM.

Monday, November 01, 2010

No rough times can be too tough not to overcome...

This song sang by Bjoern Casapietra was sent to me by a friend before I went through my operation 5 years ago. I guess the memories will always be there as we learn to move on and survive all our trials in life...

No rough times can ever be too tough not to overcome...big words...