Using Your Card At A Cash Machine

Cash machines are generally very safe, however they
do sometimes attract criminal attention so you still
need to follow common sense precautions when withdrawing cash.

To minimise the chances of having your card or card details stolen at a cash machine:

• Stand close to the cash machine. Always shield the keypad with your free hand and your body to avoid anyone seeing you enter your PIN. This will protect your PIN from anyone who might be looking over your shoulder, and also help to keep your PIN safe if a fraudster has set up a hidden camera that is filming the keypad.
• Be alert and put your personal safety first. If someone is crowding or watching you, cancel the transaction and go to another machine. Do not accept help from seemingly well-meaning strangers and never allow yourself to be distracted.
• Fraudsters sometimes fit devices to cash machines that trap your card, which they then retrieve as soon as you have left the area.  If your card is retained by the machine for any reason, report it to your card company immediately, ideally using your mobile phone while you are still in front of the machine.  Make sure you have your card company's 24 hour contact number stored in your mobile phone.
• If you spot anything unusual about the cash machine, or there are signs of tampering, do not use it. Report it to the bank concerned immediately.
• Once you have completed a transaction put your money and card away before leaving the cash machine. Destroy or preferably shred your cash machine receipts, mini-statements or balance enquiries when
  you dispose of them.

Click here for our leaflet on how to stay safe at the cash machine.

Video footage seized by LINK, the UK’s cash machine network, reveals how fraudsters can try to get hold of your four-digit PIN when you use a cash machine that they have targeted.

However, as the seized criminal footage shows, by simply shielding the keypad with your free hand, keys, wallet or purse, you can easily stop a criminal from finding out your PIN.

To watch the footage click here