first: don't take any bank notes that scattered around your feet during withdrawing your money from ATM because it is only a way to distract you. the thief will ask you whether the money is yours or not.
then when you turns around or bend over to pick up the notes, the thief will quickly swap his card with another card. it depends on whether the thief successfully noting your PIN number as you keyed it earlier to make the withdrawal. then the thief are free to drain any accounts linked to the card they now possess.
the thief is not working alone because this work require at least two or three people. what i'm wondering now is how the thieves manage to swap the card too fast and have very good eyes to note the PIN number.
one of the victim said that he just realized that the card he was holding is not his after a week later. he doesn't suspect anything because after he bent down and picked up the notes, the card and money is still there.
other way is the thief insert a blocking device inside the card slot to trap your card in the machine. then appear a very good person offering to help you, asking you enter your PIN number few times while he keep noting your numbers.
so when the card is not appear, you will leave the machine, call bank and leave the thief with your card that he will extract later and your PIN number.
Scary right?these two ways are very tricky and dirty, and the worst thing is we don't or late realize it.
so how to protect ourselves?
1. keep minimal amount of money in the accounts that are linked to your ATM cards. (i juz have less than RM100 in my ATM card, it is not worth to steal it, :p)
2. don't link the saving account and current account with a single card. it may convenient to you, and make it easy for the thieves.
3. don't use common number for your PIN number like birth date, car license etc.
4. don't write your PIN number anywhere especially on your card! just memorize it.
5. always alert with your surroundings, don get distracted even for a seconds!
6. try to cover as much as you can when you entering your PIN number.
7. if your card is trapped, report it immediately and don't leave the machine.
8. don't give any details about your PIN number and card number. i had experienced it before, someone called me and said they are from xxx company and told me that i had won RM15000. then they ask my account number and the number stated at my ATM card. sorry, i'm not that stupid!
9. don't ever leave receipts at ATM, just destroy it when you don't need it. you may think there are no important info on this receipts, but you must remember that the thief is clever, maybe cleverer than you, huhu.
Source:
the Star, 28 March 2010
8 tips to protect yourself from ATM thefts by Audri and Jim Lanford
