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.
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.
