Video footage released today (27 July) by LINK, the UK’s cash machine network, reveals how criminals can try to get hold of your four-digit PIN when you use an ATM that they have targeted. However, as the seized criminal footage shows, by simply shielding the keypad with your free hand, keys, wallet or purse, you can easily stop a criminal from finding out your PIN.
To have the video emailed to you as a Windows Media File (size 32MB) please contact Mark Bowerman at the LINK Press Office below or click here to download a full version (32MB) or here for a small version (13MB).
Although the latest figures show that cash machine fraud is on the decrease*, there have recently been incidents of cash machine crime as far afield as Aberdeen, Bangor, Barnstable and Keswick.
Criminals attach a skimming device to the card entry slot – to copy the information on the card’s magnetic stripe – whilst a miniature pinhole camera, which overlooks the ATM’s keypad, films the customer’s PIN as they enter it.
LINK has produced a cash machine fraud prevention guide that explains the scams that criminals use to get their hands on our cards and card details, as well as providing advice on how to stay safe from fraud when using an ATM. It is available to download using the linked image above right.
Edwin Schooling Latter, Managing Director, LINK Scheme said: “Incidences of cash machine crime may be few and far between but it is very difficult for a member of the public to tell if an ATM has been targeted or not. The best thing to do is always to be on the safe side and shield the keypad whenever you enter your PIN.”
* Cash machine fraud losses totalled £36.7 million in 2009 - down 51% from their peak of £74.6 million in 2004.
Media Enquiries
For more information or to have the video emailed to you as a Windows Media File (size 32MB) please contact Mark Bowerman at the LINK Press Office. Spokespeople are also available on request.
Email: press@ukpayments.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3217 8251
+44 (0) 20 3217 8316
Mobile: +44 (0) 7799 627 256
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Notes to Editors
About LINK
LINK is the UK's cash machine network. Virtually every cash machine in the UK (free-to-use and pay-to-use) is connected to LINK, and LINK provides the only route through which card issuers can offer their customers reliable nationwide access to cash. All the UK's significant debit and ATM card issuers are LINK members.
Cash machine operators who want to deploy ATMs in the UK must join LINK in order to be able to offer cash to all 100 million LINK-enabled cards in circulation.
The number of free-to-use ATMs in the UK is at an all-time high of 40,000.
97% of all ATM cash withdrawals by UK cardholders in the UK are made free-of-charge.
LINK works in partnership with independent charity, Crimestoppers to offer rewards of up to £25,000 for information relating to cash machine crime. Anyone with details about those responsible for cash machine crime - such as card skimming or even physical attacks on the machine itself - can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where they can leave their information completely anonymously.
