People in Delhi lose Rs 10 lakh after using ATMs: Here is how to stay safe

There is no stopping for incidents related to ATM card skimming and people across the country, especially from metro cities continue to lose their hard-earned money to fraudsters. A number of such cases have been reported from Delhi only. In a recent incident, 12 Delhiites have lost almost Rs 10 lakh in a case of suspected skimming. What is common among these 12 people was that they all used ATMs located in an East Delhi area. The amount was withdrawn from different ATMs of Noida and East Delhi in some quick transaction made within 12 to 15 minutes, reported Times of India.

At the time of the alleged withdrawals, the ATM cards of all the victims were with them and before they could place a call to customer care executives of their banks, the money was swept off from their accounts. Before we tell you how to be safe, you should know about skimming first.

What is a card skimming and skimmer?

Skimming is a process by which scamster steals confidential information like your debit/credit card data to clone your card. A skimmer is a device that can be attached to an ATM or a payment machine to trick people who are swiping their credit cards or debit cards. The device is attached to the slot where people insert their card into the machine. The device reads and records information of the card. Mostly, the skimming device is set up on an ATM machine, along with a nearby pin-hole camera or person watching you enter your PIN. Shoppers can also victimized, with fake 'overlay' pieces fitted over real payment machines.

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ATM card skimming: How to be safe?

If you are visiting an ATM, you should check whether the keypad looks different or thicker? Also, give a gentle nudge to the slot where you insert your card. Any skimming device attached to it will fall out even with a gentle nudge. You should also not let anyone else enter the ATM room while you are inside. Besides this, while entering the PIN, try to hide your fingers with your other hand so to avoid any hidden camera positioned to record your PIN number. Also, don't write your ATM/Debit card PIN on the card. You should not keep a PIN for a very long time and must change it from time to time.