Guest OceanBreeze Posted November 7, 2009 Posted November 7, 2009 They'll look kind and helpful when they approach you. But better watch out. They are the proverbial wolves in sheep's clothing. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has warned the public against thieves victimizing ATM (automated teller machine) cardholders.With the Christmas shopping season just around the corner, expect these rogues to again roam the metropolis where shoppers often withdraw cash from ATMs inside commercial centers.Their modus operandi is like this, according to the BSP: The suspect will approach the cardholder after the latter completes his or her ATM transaction, and tell the victim that there is money (such as a P500-bill) still stacked in the machine.After that, the suspect will ask the victim to make a balance inquiry of his or her account. The suspect will then stealthily observe the PIN numbers that the cardholder keys into the cash machine, then drop a bill, claiming it came out of the ATM."While the cardholder is busy picking up the money, the suspect would remove the ATM card from the machine and switch it with another card, the BSP explains.Another modus operandi is what BSP calls, "shoulder surfing," wherein the suspect stands close enough to the victim so he could see the cardholder's PIN number when he or she does the bank transaction.The BSP offered the following tips to prevent being victimized by the gang:When using an ATM, shield the keypad. If you feel someone is standing too close, "don't be afraid to tell the next person who is in line to step back." Or, allow the other person to go in first and complete his or her transaction first.Always inspect the ATM you are using, as card reader devices can be spotted. If some parts around the slot for inserting the card do not seem right, consider walking away and using another ATM.Never share your PIN with another person, not even with family or friends, and absolutely never with a stranger.Choose a PIN that is easy to remember but not based on a birthday, anniversary, address or telephone number.Change your PIN regularly.Do not use the same PIN on all your cards. While doing so may be easier for you to remember your PIN, it makes it easier for a thief to access all your accounts if your wallet is stolen.Memorize your PIN, never write it down or keep it in your wallet.Report captured cards immediately. As much as possible, do not leave the machine without reporting the card capture first. Immediately call the bank where the card was captured using a cell phone or the phone provided by the bank in the ATM booth.For further inquiries, call the BSP's Financial Consumer Affairs Group at consumeraffairs@bsp.gov.ph, or 5233631, or 5247011 local 2584.Source: ph.news.yahoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mik Posted November 8, 2009 Posted November 8, 2009 If anyone approaches you at an ATM, firmly tell them to "Back off, please." I avoid ATMs out on the sidewalk or any place where there are passersby.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OceanBreeze Posted November 8, 2009 Posted November 8, 2009 By the way .. there are also some interesting youtube videos about money changing scam, thieving ... >>>http://www.youtube.c...gilbertcruz#p/u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sampaguita Posted November 8, 2009 Posted November 8, 2009 By the way .. there are also some interesting youtube videos about money changing scam, thieving ... >>>http://www.youtube.c...gilbertcruz#p/u Most of that was self explanatory and did not really need to be translated and it basically said for people to watch out for the fast hands and to use known money changers. At the end it said to report all short changing to the police but we all know that would do very little except that if they got enough complaints, maybe they would try to set up the crooked money changer.My husband and I use known money changers and try to exchange larger sums of money while at our bank. We make a few phone calls to the money changer we know and they will usually send someone to the bank we do business with and give us the money right in the bank and we just deposit it into our account before leaving the bank. Also many of the banks have black market money changers that they regularly do business with and who have accounts at their banks, so they will often call the money changer for you and you should make some calls around to see what the going rate is and then have them call the money changer for you and if the one the bank uses is close to the exchange rate you have already been quoted, then you can have their changer come to the bank and no money will actually change hands. If your changer is higher then you can also ask the bank to call them back and ask if they will meet it. You and the money changer sign deposit and withdrawal slips and the bank withdraws your dollars and their pesos and then deposits the pesos into your account and the dollars into the money changers account and you both get receipts with your balances. We find that to be the safest way to do large exchanges and it is easier and safer to do one large exchange than lots of little ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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