Absa issued a warning this week to be careful of criminals who offer
assistance at automatic teller machines (ATMs). The latest tactic used by
these criminals is to jam the receipt printers so that the ATMs cannot
issue receipts at the end of the transaction.
A screen informing you that no receipt is available due to a printer
problem appears and asks you whether you want to continue with the
transaction. Because it is an unfamiliar screen, the criminals seize this
opportunity to distract clients and before the customer realises it a
withdrawal of up to R1 000 is carried out.
The criminal tells the customer that the transaction was cancelled and
gives them back their card. When you leave the ATM, the criminals takes the
cash that has been dispensed from the ATM.
Jan de Villiers, a general manager at Absa has the following advice for
bank account holders:
* Read the screen instructions carefully;
* Do not allow anybody to disturb you while using the ATM;
* If you feel uncomfortable at any time, cancel the transaction and leave
immediately; and
* Ensure that nobody sees you inserting your personal identification number
while using an ATM.