| soccr |
Jun 25th, 2004 06:38 AM |
ATM card scam alert, NC and elsewhere
A posting on another board reminded me that local news is reporting a rash of a familiar (but annoying) scam in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary-RTP area that, they say, is resurfacing elsewhere, too. Thought I'd alert others about to travel around the US -- you've heard it before. Heads up, again:
Criminals are inserting small plastic sleeves in ATM card slots, particularly after banks close for the weekend or the night before a holiday. Victims insert their card -- nothing happens -- they try again -- nothing -- they try to cancel but often the card doesn't slide back out. They assume it's been "eaten" by the ATM and plan to call the bank at beginning of the next business day. Problems: 1. the thieves may have been able to observe the password; 2. they can retrieve sleeve plus card once the victims leave; 3. you should always call the 800 number a.s.a.p., whether you think the card was stolen or simply seized in error. If you wait a day or two, it might be claimed that you voluntarily allowed someone to use your card -- you can usually fight this successfully, but who wants the hassle?
There are some other established problems with ATM fraud, modification, etc. but this is one that should be immediately obvious to travelers.
One last thought: I try never to use any ATM not owned and run by a bank -- the "generic" ones in convenience and other stores could be rigged for who-knows-what kind of mischief, and will almost always include a surcharge.
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