PANJIM: The State police have issued an advisory to bank customers using various Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) to be vigilant while withdrawing cash from the dispensing machines.
“Look at an ATM to make sure a card slot is “legitimate and not tacked on.” Look for things that strike you as unusual. When protecting your account against ATM thieves, it’s all about awareness, paying attention and understanding the risks. Therefore being alert and aware always pays,” reads the advisory.
Similarly, there is a clear instruction to avoid falling prey to any help offered by a stranger, particularly those ATM users, who are not familiar with the withdrawal system. “If you are not familiar with the ATM card usage, do not try to get help from any strangers at the ATM. Try to get the instructions as to how to operate the ATM from the Bank branch. Do not hand over the ATM card to anyone else to operate and never disclose the ATM Pin to anybody,” it states.
While the department’s cyber cell besides concerned police stations are in receipt of dozens of ATM skimming cases in the recent past, there are also instances wherein bank customers have been victims of phone scam.
In a latest case reported last week, a fraudster tricked a Varca resident into giving ATM details on the phone only to siphon off Rs 50,000 from the latter’s bank account minutes later. The caller has impersonated himself as an official of State Bank of India. As such, a senior IPS officer told Herald, the department has strictly advised people not to disclose bank details or even AADHAR, PAN card details to suspicious persons. “Such details shouldn’t also be disclosed on a phone call whether or not the caller and the receiver are known to each other. Meet the concerned in person to share such confidential details,” he warned.
“At ATM centres, skimmers usually place hidden cameras in such a manner so that they can pick up your password while you type/punch it. Cover the key pad while typing the PIN to thwart any such attempt,” the advisory further reads. The State had last year witnessed back-to-back cases of ATM skimming wherein a few of them lost lakhs of rupees. Using familiar ATMs and limiting visits and checking account statement frequently are other suggestions.
