Just watching how cash machine ( ATM) thieves steal money at the machines .
They are called shoulder surfers because they move in on the person using the machine .
I wonder why machines don’t have sides to prevent this ?
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On the rare occasion I use an ATM, I always take someone with me to stand a couple of paces behind me to avoid others shoulder surfing my PIN.
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Yep, I always make it obvious that I’m alert by using body language. Having a good look around and perhaps giving anyone standing too close a Paddington look does the job… shouldn’t tempt fate though.
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I always use the machines on the wall at Tesco’s. I use them early in the mornings and wait until nobody else is there. I also do a quick feel and look around the top of the machine to make sure there are no cameras hidden there. I have read about people hiding a small camera up on the machine to record your keystrokes.
I only use the machine inside my bank branch which is only open during office hours and can’t be manipulated. There never is another person around when I’m using it. The keypad has three shields so that I myself have to bend to insert the PIN.
I don’t know about these cash-points, I aways keep a respectable distance, but at the supermarket till I can’t help but notice the number of people who make no effort to disguise their PIN … stand back with finger protruded stabbing at the four numbers. Half the time you can see, or guess, what their PIN is, without even trying.
When I go to my Nationwide to draw money out, I always go inside to the machine, no matter how many are using it. No one dare get anywhere near you, all keep a respectful distance.
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I also only use cash machines in the bank,or go to the bank assistant.
Safety first.
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I can remember a long way back to when Barclays first introduced the paper cash card. It was a piece of card with holes punched into it. It was inserted into the Cash Machine (not an ATM) and then the machine would dispense the cash equivalent to the sum demanded by the punched holes. No PIN was required and the paper cards came in £10 and £20 values.
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