Are ATM’s Still Safe To Use?
Many of us have wondered whether or not ATM’s are truly safe for us to use. Studies show that ATM’s that are located in a bank are much safer to use than ones that are located at a more public place - like the mall or the grocery store.
In fact many believe that you should never use the ATM machines that are located at convenience stores because they are much easier for people to tamper with and to hack into. According to many security analysts we should be worried about more than just hackers who are trying to steal our pin number. There are several scams that we need to avoid when using the ATM and that can be prevented if it all possible.
One of the biggest scams that everyone should be aware of is called skimming. This is when thieves will insert a device into the card slot on the ATM and will steal the data off your card’s magnetic strip. This is the more popular scam because it is harder for ATM’s to prevent and it makes you more vulnerable to losing money. Most thieves will stay away from the heavily guarded ATM’s because they have surveillance tapes.
Another way to avoid being taken by thieves (besides going to the right ATM) is to change your pin on a regular basis. I would recommend changing it every 6 months or using different accounts. When you are shopping try paying with your credit card or cash instead of your debit. Your credit card will have fraud liability on it while your debit will not.
Avoid using your pin for anything online. There is no reason for anyone to use their pin online because nothing requires it. If something does ask for it than it is a scam.