How to Stay Safe at the ATM

ATMs are wonderful creations, after all, they are designed with the consumer in mind because they allow people with a bank account to withdraw money from that account without delay. However, overtime, people have found that using cash machines can lead them open to being mugged and attacked for their money, their card and their PIN. However, while this is rare, it doesn't have happen, and there are ways that you can protect yourself at the ATM.

When you use a cash machine, you will be recorded on CCTV, this is something that all banks do in order to protect you from crime and prevent further crimes from happening. While this is designed to protect the customer, a lot of the responsibility for safety lies with the customer themselves, and so if you want to protect yourself, your money and your card when you're at an ATM, then here is what you need to do.

1. When using an ATM, just take a moment to look at your surroundings; are there many people around? Is there a queue behind you? Be aware of who is near you, if you are at the cash machine with a friend or family member make sure that they keep an eye on the people around you.

2. When typing in your PIN or Personal Identification Number, make sure that your PIN can't be easily seen by anyone standing behind you. To do this, position your body so that the keypad is hidden from view, or use your hand and purse or wallet to obscure the keypad as you type in your pin.

3. Similarly, the amount you take out must be hidden from view too. As you can take out anything from £10 - £200 and more out of a cash machine at any one time, the amount you take out could be very inviting for anyone watching you.

4. Once you have you cash and mini statement, if you asked for one, take the time to put it in your purse or wallet while you're standing at the cash machine. Don't worry about the queue behind you, just make sure that the money is safely stashed away and in your wallet, purse or bag before walking away. Flashing the cash can make you a very popular person and a potential target for thieves.

5. Lastly, keep an eye out for your bank statement when it arrives, you check it online regularly so that you can keep tabs on when you withdrew money, how much you took out, and if possible what ATM you used. Skimming scams, where criminals steal your card details and technology are well-known, so if you see any transactions that you can't account for, call the bank immediately.

ATM's contain special technology known as EMV, and an EMV ATM is designed to keep the customer's money safe, so make sure you don;t have your PIN number written down and near your card, and if your purse or wallet is stolen that will ensure that the thieves won't get access to your money, because they don't have the PIN.

Harvey McEwan writes to offer information and advice on a variety of areas, from technology to holiday destinations. Read through Harvey's other articles here to find out more.

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