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RESURGENCE OF ATM BOMBINGS CALLS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ON HIGH ALERT

Consumers are urged not to use ATMs in desolate areas. This warning comes on the back ofreports of a resurgence of ATM bombings as well as ongoing ATM-related crimes around thecountry.

During May 2011, ATMs in Doornpoort and Cullinan in Gauteng, as well as an ATM at Nyangain the Western Cape were attacked. At the Cullinan incident, the explosives failed to ignite,promoting the criminals to take an axe to the machine. A police woman was also shot to deathin April while attending to an ATM bombing at a taxi rank in Ekurhuleni.

We are strongly urging the public to only use ATMs at busy centres where there is mannedsecurity. The spate of ATM bombings in the past two months serves as a stark reminder thatusing ATMs can be risky.

Of course, this is not the only risk associated with using ATMs. Related crimes such a fraud,card swapping, card jamming, and muggings are an ever-present threat.

Criminals are known to target people at ATMs, attacking them as they walk away from themachine after withdrawing cash, spying over their shoulders to check bank balances and stealPIN numbers and, employing various tactics to get their hands on banks cards, very oftenthrough manipulating ATM machines.

We all need to bear these threats in mind and be extra-vigilant when using ATM machines,says Telesure Holdings MD, Thomas Creamer.

The following tips may help prevent you from becoming a victim of an ATM crime:

Never tell anyone your PIN number.

Dont keep your PIN number and your card together.

Avoid poorly-lit ATMs. Dont use street-facing ATMs or machines in very quite places.

Only key in your PIN number when the machine prompts you to do so.

Make sure nobody is watching you put in your PIN code. If someone is standing tooclose, tell them to move away.

Stand close to the ATM and shield your hand with your body when keying in your PIN toensure that nobody can see what your PIN is.

Make sure you keep your hand over the card slot to make sure nobody can take yourcard.

Leave the ATM immediately if you dont feel safe.

Never accept help from anyone not even a security guard.

Dont let anyone distract you while you are conducting a transaction at an ATM.

Make sure the card is in fact yours before and after you conduct a transaction.

Never count your money at an ATM.

Cancel your card immediately if your card is lost, stolen, damaged or retained. Make thephone call yourself to your bank or to the number printed on the machine. Dont letanyone make the call for you.

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If one or two ATMs in a certain area are not working, it is best not to go to the nearestavailable ATM in the same area. Sabotage of an ATM is often done to lead potentialvictims to a specific ATM.

If a machine looks damaged, the screen is blank or appears as though it has beentampered with, do not use it.

Lower your daily withdrawal limit to stop criminals from stealing all you money shouldthey manage to get their hands on your card.

The main thing is to be on high-alert while you are using an ATM. If you notice anythingsuspicious or feel uneasy, trust your instincts and move away from the machine, concludesThomas Creamer.