ATM Security
The ubiquitous ATM machine has taken over the banking industry in
many ways. This old dog hasn’t visited a bank teller more than twice in the
last three years. It’s so much easier to either pull up to the front of the
bank and use the ATM machine there, or to drive up to an ATM machine and not
even have to get out of your car. [Just be sure when you use a drive-up ATM that
the sun isn’t shining on the screen, or you won’t be able to read it.] I
chuckle every time I go to my local branch bank. When I pull up to the ATM
machine, there is almost never anyone in front of me. If so, they make a quick
transaction and move on. Meanwhile, on the other side of the island where the
ATM sits is the drive-in window line. The line is always long. I’m done and
gone before cars at the drive-in window even move.
But ease of use and the great number of locations are not
reasons to relax and not be concerned while at the ATM machine. First, if you
can possibly avoid it, never go to an ATM machine at night. If you must, then
take someone with you. No matter how good and safe your neighborhood may be, a
single individual standing at an ATM in the dark is a very tempting target. Even
if you use a drive-up ATM, you still should take someone with you. Armed robbery
happens frequently enough that it’s not worth chancing.
Second, if you withdraw cash, immediately put it in your
wallet, pocket or some other place. But do not stand there counting it and
flashing it for all to see. A wad of $20 bills is just so tempting to someone.
In all the years I’ve used ATM machines, never has the amount dispensed been
wrong. And if, by any remote chance, you withdraw $200, for instance, and only
receive $180, that error will be found and you will receive your money or the
withdrawal amount will be changed. This is just not something to be worried
about while standing at an ATM with a handful of greenbacks.
Banks and ATM machines vary in the type and services they
offer. Mine are rather old-fashioned. They have black and white screens with
somewhat hard-to-read displays. Later machines are in brilliant color, are easy
to read (even in sunlight), have much better keypads and screen instructions. It
does make a difference. There are other changes coming also. Today, to make a
deposit of checks or cash you put it all into an envelope with your deposit slip
and insert that envelope into the ATM. Other than keeping a supply of ATM
deposit envelopes on hand, it’s a very simple transaction. [Note: You should
keep ATM deposit envelopes at home. Put the entire deposit together so that when
you go to the ATM you simply make your deposit. If you have to sit there and
complete the envelope and deposit slip, it takes far too long. That extra time
holds other customers up and makes you far more susceptible to being robbed.]
Before too long, some banks at least will have machines
that allow you to simply deposit the cash directly, with no envelope and no
deposit slip. [These are probably the same machines that can be easily read in
the sunlight also.] Your information is stored on your ATM card, and your
receipt has all the information on it for your records. Another, far more
important, process that has been around for a long time but is rarely seen, is a
duress key. It works like this. You walk up to your ATM machine and insert your
card. You want to deposit your paycheck and withdraw $100 for spending money.
You type in your PIN for that card so that you can make your transactions. If
you are approached by someone or if you are being forced to make an ATM
transaction, some systems have a duress code. Suppose your PIN is 6973. If you
are under duress and want to summon the police, you would type in 69739, for
instance. The extra number (standardized to a particular number) sets off an
alarm that will summon the police—either directly or through the bank’s
security department. The bad guy doesn’t know you’ve hit that panic button,
and we can only hope the police arrive before he flees. Unfortunately, this
isn’t very common yet today, and it’s anyone’s guess whether it will
become used more. People are so worried about false alarms.
Common sense is the best approach with an ATM. The machines
do wonders that allow banks to keep their fees as low as possible by not having
as many tellers as they would need otherwise. But safety is paramount. Be
careful.
Blackdog 
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