Millions of people every year fall victim to a scam in the UK as fraudsters come up with new and innovative ways to target the vulnerable.
Staying alert to scammers may seem like a never ending mission, with new methods constantly revealed. From scams over pension schemes, to answering the wrong phone call, the need to stay vigilant is strong.
In the run up the Christmas, many people will be heading out to the shops to buy last minute festive items, but if you are heading to an ATM machines be aware it has not been tampered with, the Mirror reports.
READ MORE: Woman screams 'your face has been slashed' as man left city centre venue
ATM’s take a lot of punishment, with most of them being outdoors and accessible 24 hours a day meaning it is easier for fraudsters to tamper with them and fool you.
With fraudsters working in overdrive this Christmas, the main things to watch out for when using an ATM have been revealed.
The glue trap
The slot blocker trap is one of the oldest and most common cash tricks.
If you withdraw cash and don’t take the money, usually after five or more seconds, the machine takes the cash back and drops it in to a box inside the ATM itself.
If you complain to the bank, they can identify the money you tried to withdraw - but with some machines, fraudsters simply block the slot, usually with glue, so the money backs up inside it and they can break the seal and steal it.
A slightly more high-tech version involves the fraudster sliding a fake cash dispenser cover over the real slot. These scams are ‘proximity frauds and the thief must be close by the machine as they need to sweep in and collect the cash before anyone figures out the problem.
The Lebanese loop
This scam targets the card itself. The loop can be a plastic sleeve or tape that slots into the card part of the ATM so when you put in your card, it stops it being released.
Some variations have a camera on the ATM that films you putting in your pin, so watch out for anything stuck to the machine such as a leaflet holder.
Others can involve a fraudster watching you enter your pin from behind. Criminals can then go on a spending spree, or sell your details in countries where there is no 'chip and pin' card.
The smash and grab/shoulder surf
This one is simple, the fraudster distracts you at the exact moment the money dispenses, then grabs your money and runs off.
They often ask random questions and it's over before you have registered what happened.
The shoulder surf is when the thief watched you enter your pin, then follows you before stealing your wallet or purse - this one is popular in bars during this time of year.
How to avoid being scammed
All of this is worrying news, so you may be asking how to avoid being scammed.
Here's some top tips that you can watch out for to avoid being scammed.
- Take a good look at the machine for anything that doesn’t belong or looks like it might have been stuck on to it – particularly around the card and cash slots. Give it a shake or pick at it to see if it’s a bit flimsy. Be wary of anything that protrudes outwards.
- If your card or cash is retained, don’t move away from the machine. Call the number on it and report the situation (if there is one). Tell the people waiting that the machine is jammed. Beware of strangers with ‘helpful’ advice.
- If your card is retained then call your bank and report it lost/stolen before you leave the machine.
- If it’s daytime, go inside the bank to withdraw cash where it’s harder to fall victim to a cash grab.
- If someone is too close to you, turn around and ask them to step back.
- If someone tries to talk to you during a transaction, ignore them – or ideally, cancel it before the transaction and keep your hand by the card slot to stop an opportunistic grab.
- Always report suspicious activity to the bank and the police.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
