Tips for Being Safe at the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)

Selasa, 17 Desember 2013

Everyday in the local news and papers, you hear about crimes at the ATMs. Since the advent of ATMs, the convenience of obtaining cash 24/7 brings with it, the compromise of personal safety.
Very simply, a robber, intent on quick cash, needs only to stake out a local ATM to commit their robbery. Regrettably, a shooting of someone for his or her cash can easily change a robbery into a murder. Drug abusers who need money to buy more drugs commit many of these robberies. Not only are they desperate, but also are often sociopaths who have no regard for human life. Many of these robberies are committed in areas with low traffic and are poorly illuminated. Next time you use an ATM, do a quick assessment of the area to see if it meets this criteria. You would be surprised!
ATMs at, or inside banks are often the safest. Often ATMs at sports arenas, airports and malls are often equally safe. By planning ahead and using common sense, you can minimize your chance of being victimized. The following tips are provided to make your transaction at the ATM as safe as possible.
1. Try to pay a considerate amount of attention to the ATM and its surroundings. Use an ATM close to the center of a building, not in a corner. Corners are known for creating blind spots where someone can hide and easily escape after the robbery. Try to do your automatic banking in a well-lit, public area that is free of shrubbery, partitions or dividers. These are designed to be creative and decorative, but they also serve as hiding areas for a robber.
2. While conducting the transaction, constantly maintain an awareness of your surroundings throughout the entire time. Be cautious of people who offer to help you with your ATM transactions. Check to see if anyone is sitting in a parked car nearby. When you do leave the ATM, make sure you are not being followed. If you suspect that you are being followed, proceed immediately to a police or fire station, or to a well-lighted crowded public location or business.
3. Don't use an ATM that appears different looking or displays options that you have never seen before. There is illicit technology that slips over and integrates with an ATM's card reader, and designed to read and record all the information about your card, including pin number and 3-4-digit security codes. These machines are used for identity theft and unauthorized ordering of goods on the internet.
4. Never allow people to look over your shoulder while you enter your personal identification number (PIN). Memorize your PIN; do not write it on the back of your card. Never re-enter your PIN if the ATM consumes or retains your card.
If it does, contact your bank that issues the card to place an immediate stop on the card.
5. Try not to wear expensive or "flashy" jewelry while using an ATM.
This serves as an added incentive to a robber, who may do anything to grab or take your jewelry.
6. Make sure you wait until you re-enter your car and drive to a safe place before you count your cash. DO NOT COUNT CASH in PUBLIC!
7. Always have enough deposit envelopes at home to quickly conduct your transaction, minimizing the time that you are there. Fill out the paperwork prior to arriving at the ATM.
8.When using a drive-through lane, keep your engine running, doors locked and keep enough distance between the front of your car and the back of the car in front of you. This is to afford you the ability to maneuver around the car in front; thereby facilitating an avenue of escape.
9. Closely monitor your bank statements, either on line or through monthly statements for transaction you may not have made. Immediately report any problems to your bank.
10. If someone confronts you and demands money, COMPLY. Property can be replaced, your life cannot!
By following these simple measures, you should significantly reduce your chances of being robbed, or worst. Next time you do read or hear about a robbery at an ATM, see how these measures could have had an impact on the outcome. Crimes are often referred to as "crimes of opportunity". Take the "opportunity" out of your daily events to enhance your safety.

ATM Security and Safety Tips

Senin, 16 Desember 2013

By Chirag Patel 

Before I disclose the secrets of securing your ATM cards, let me explain the possible methods you can be victim of money frauds. How we use Automatic Teller Machine? We insert our card in card slot of the machine, then enter 4 digit secure pin and choose the amount to withdraw, that's it. So here are the chances of risks.
How Our ATM Card or 4 Digit Secure Pin can be stolen?

1. Your friend or college may guess your password and steal your card from your pocket. He can use it to withdraw money and can put back the card in your pocket.
2. If you have remembered 4 digit secure pin by writing it somewhere in your diary or phonebook, it may be also stolen.
3. There may be small, portable wireless hidden camera in side the ATM machine to keep an eye on your figures and to record the pin code (Password) you enter for money withdrawal.
4. There may be transparent thin sheet on keypad to record the activities of your fingers and hence to retrieve the password you entered.
5. There also may be magnetic frame attached to the card slot and look like machine's part it self, so that when you wipe your card or enter into slot, it gets wiped with that thin magnetic tape and can be duplicated the information printed in magnetic form on your card's black strip.

So how to secure your ATM Transaction from frauds? Well, it's not too hard, by simply following below tips and keeping them in mind every time you make transaction, you are safe.

1. Never, Never disclose your ATM Pin to any of the person except your self. Even if he/she is your best friend. In any case if you have to disclose, immediately change the pin on you next ATM visit.
2. Always remember that 4 digit pin in your own memory and not on book, paper or diary which can put you on risk.
3. Do not use your card, if you see any abnormal device attached near ATM machine, may be near keypad or near card slot. In such a case, it is recommended to immediately contact the concerned person to inform about this abnormal device.
4. Always cover keypad of the machine by your body while entering the password to protect it from possible hidden camera or your friends standing with you.

Keep habit to change your password after few weeks or months and always use strong password, which is impossible to guess by your best friend also.

5 Tips for Buying an ATM Machine

By Jon J Nestorovic 

ATM machines have been shown to provide more profit to businesses that have them in their premises; in fact studies show that people who use Automated cash machines in a store or other business, will spend 40% of the money the withdraw. Therefore, with an ATM, you will not only be increasing the traffic to your store, people will also be spending more money and you will make a portion of money the money that comes from the service charges also. The following are tips to help you buy an ATM machine.
1. Features and options
You will need to do some research in order to find out which types of ATM machines you can buy and what features are available. After you know this, you will need to decide what options you want on your machine and start finding a company that can provide you with this.
2. What technology does it Use?
Although the technology may sound like gibberish to you, consult with a professional in order to find out what type of machine you will need with the setup you already have. A company that is knowledgeable in ATM's should be able to help you with this.
3. Calculate Traffic Volume
Although the simple fact of having the automated teller in your store should increase the volume of traffic in your store, you can't rely on that. You will need to make a careful analyse of how much traffic you get and whether or not it is worth adding this additional cost even though it will more than likely make you money in the long run.
4. Understand the Prices
Some ATM machine services may not be a flat rate, so it is important to really understand what type of pricing they are using. Ask various companies for their prices and make sure to ask if there are any types of additional costs associated with having the ATM machine.
5. Get Information on Recovery Plans
Although there have been a lot of improvements over the years on the safety of automatic teller machines, they can still be at a risk for being stolen from. Make sure to understand whether or not the company you are buying from has a plan to recover this money. Also, electronic equipment can sometimes be unpredictable and there is always a chance that information would be lost, you would also want to know what their policy is regarding this.

Guide to Automatic Teller Machines

By Bill Stone 
Have you ever stopped to wonder exactly how it is that automatic teller machines (known as ATM's) work? It seems so simple. You walk up to the machine, insert your ATM or debit card, and are then able to withdraw or deposit money, inquire on your account status, and in some cases even purchase postage or a variety of other goods or services.
There is obviously a computer at work, and it does its job well since it's very rare that the ATM makes a mistake. To help provide some insight into the automated teller, here is an overview of exactly how the ATM does all of the things that it does.
What are automatic teller machines?
They are basically computerized bank interfaces, allowing customers to access several banking features any time of the day or night regardless of whether the actual bank is open or not.
While there are some features that cannot be accessed from an ATM (such as opening a new account or applying for a loan), modern ATMs strive to allow customers to have as much of the banking experience available to them as possible.
How ATMs work
ATM operation is fairly straightforward. A computer within the machine allows users to choose from a variety of different options after they insert or swipe their ATM or debit card. The card information along with their choices is sent to a computer at the bank where the ATM is located or to the bank which controls the ATM, if the machine is a stand-alone that isn't located at a bank branch.
If the individual using the machine is a customer at the bank, then the computer then accesses their account; if they are not, then the bank's computer contacts the computer at the user's home bank.
Checks are made to see whether or not the user can complete the transaction that they request, and if so then the transaction is completed. An electronic eye within the ATM counts any money that is given, making a record of the bills used and whether any of them are damaged, while a camera and, sometimes a microphone, record the user in case there is a need to know who used the card.
ATMs and other banks
Almost all automatic teller machines allow users from other banks to make use of them, though there is generally a service charge associated with this. The options available may be limited when the user isn't a customer with the bank that controls the ATM; they may not be able to make certain inquiries or deposits, or access certain features that the machine offers. In many cases, however, most or all of the options offered by a particular machine are available to all users, regardless of their bank of origin.
When ATMs make mistakes
It doesn't happen often, but occasionally ATM machines do make mistakes. This is usually due to some glitch in the software, or by bills that are loaded incorrectly or that are sticking to each other and causing a jam or blockage. If this happens to you, report the problem to the bank that controls the ATM as soon as possible. They will check the internal records of the machine, and work to get the problem resolved as quickly as possible.