The increasing number of incidents of ATM skimming is enough to cause alarm for many parents out there.
With Christmas bonuses soon to come, we should all the more be vigilant about protecting ourselves to ensure a happy holiday celebration for our families.
Here are some simple yet helpful tips to remember.
1. Feel around the machine
Feel around for any irregularities in the keypad card slot or camera. ATM thieves have been known to place magnetic keypads to retrieve ATM Pins and fake card slots to obtain ATM card information.
If the card slot feels loose, this may be because it's fake. There must also be no visible wires anywhere on the machine.
2. Always change your password
To be sure no one is able to duplicate your password, make a habit out of changing it regularly. But be sure to keep track of it as well so you won't get confused.
Make it easy to remember but change it frequently.
3. Choose where you withdraw
The usual targets of these crimes are ATMs in dimly-lit areas. Try to avoid withdrawing from machines located in places that aren't frequented by crowds.
Withdrawing inside banks or malls is still the safest option.
4. Stay alert even while withdrawing
If the person next to you in line is standing too close or you sense something off about their behavior, it's best not to continue withdrawing.
Even if most ATMs have covers on top of keypads, it's always better to be extra careful so make sure to cover your hands while typing in your PIN.
5. Keep track of your balance
Make sure to keep all transaction receipts to know how much balance you still have in your account so you can be aware of any sudden withdrawals.
Trust your instincts. They exist for a reason. And they're often right on the money.
Learn more about cases of ATM skimming in this report by ABS-CBN.
Read: Find out how thieves are stealing your atm pin code using an iPhone!
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