Bank ATM skimming: These customers lost Rs 15 lakh, this is how you can keep your money safe

Financial crime cases like bank ATM skimming, cyber hacking are on the rise as people increasingly look to go cashless across India due to the benefits of digital transactions. However, this is also leading to a surge in crimes targetted at bank customers. Not only people of tier-I and II cities but also of Metro cities like Delhi are falling to the fraudsters' tricks and losing their hard earned money. Many of these cases have to do with bank ATM skimming. Yes, even your credit card and debit card are not safe if you don't take care. Despite repeated instructions by banks and various news reports, many people still have fallen victim to fraud. In the most recent case of bank ATM skimming, as many as 61 Punjab National Bank customers of Delhi's Vasant Vihar branch have lost around Rs 15 lakh, according to a Times of India report.  

A case has now been registered in Vasant Vihar police station after the bank received numerous complaints from its customer alleging transaction carried from their account without approval. The fraudsters have made off with the money even as the police is investigating the matter.

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Bank ATM skimming is basically a trick of cloning a customers credit card or debit card details. Fraudsters set a camera or duplicate keypad in order to record your PIN number and fix a cloning device over the card reading slot to steal your debit/credit card information. Once they get this data, they clone the card and withdraw money from your account.

Bank ATM Card Skimming: How to be safe?

The first and foremost step you should take, if you are hit in this manner, is to get your credit card or debit card blocked using the bank's mobile app or customer care number. Then you should immediately inform your bank about the alleged fraud transaction. As per RBI rules, a customer's liability becomes zero where the unauthorised transaction occurs in the following events:

* Contributory fraud/ negligence/deficiency on the part of the bank (irrespective of whether or not the transaction is reported by the customer).

* Third party breach where the deficiency lies neither with the bank nor with the customer but lies elsewhere in the system and the customer notifies the bank within three working days of receiving the communication from the bank regarding the unauthorised transaction.

Also, you should be cautious while visiting the ATM. You must look for -
* Whether the keypad looks altered or a fake keypad is placed over the original keypad. See if it is loose or looks different from the bank machine itself.
* Whether the card reading slot looks a bit different. If a skimming device has been fixed over the card reading slot, it will fall out with a nudge.
* Whether a second person or any pinhole camera is fixed to record your PIN  

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Also, banks have been advising customers not to share the OTP, ATM PIN with anyone. Also, you should not let your card disappear from before your eyes while making a transaction at PoS machines.