Watch Out For This ATM Scam

You need to be wary of the latest ATM scam that thieves are perpetrating on the general public. It is being called "The Glue and Tap Scam" by banking institutions.

According to an article written by Kevin Alvarez on SafeAmerica.com, here's how the scam works. You approach an ATM machine and try to insert your card but you find that the card slot has been glued shut or it looks like someone else's debit card is stuck in there. A very "helpful" bystander that seems to be minding their own business notices that you are struggling to insert your debit card. The "helpful" thief lets you know that you can withdraw cash or do your banking by using the very convenient "tap feature" which most ATM's employ nowadays.

The rest of your transaction continues without any problems and you go on with your day, thanking that "helpful bystander" as you leave the ATM. A few days or weeks later, when you are balancing your accounts, or reviewing your bank statements, or trying to withdraw more cash, you find out that your banking account has been drained. How could this have happened?

Here's how. There is one minor difference between conducting an ATM transaction by inserting your debit card into the card slot. When you complete your transaction this way, the machine spits your card back out. The only way to continue banking at that ATM machine is to re-insert your card and punch in your pin number again. However, when you conduct an ATM transaction by tapping your debit card, people often just walk away after they have retrieved their cash from the machine. They don't realize that there is one more necessary step to take before your transaction is fully completed.

That one step is to be patient, and wait for the prompt to show up on the ATM screen which asks if you have completed all of your banking transactions. You must physically tap the screen prompt which closes out your banking transaction before walking away from the ATM machine. If you fail to take this necessary step, that "helpful bystander" can walk right up to that ATM machine after you have left and start withdrawing cash.

Remember, from now on, always be patient at that ATM machine and double-check that you have officially closed out of your banking transactions before leaving the ATM kiosk.

Let’s be friends! 👍 Follow us on all social media platforms:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kklz963

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kklz963/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kklz963/

Larry Martino is the long-time Afternoon Drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

As if there weren't enough things to worry about. Your credit card information may be stolen by simply using it in local retail stores, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police warn.

Scammers have recently been targeting the Las Vegas area by using EMV (Smart Chip) "skimmers," according to metro police's Twitter.

These "skimmers" are sleek, discrete add-ons to credit card machines that can be easily overlooked. These small devices can collect information from thousands of cards and even steal PIN number information.

The police say when unsuspecting customers insert their cards in a machine, the skimmer will still processes the purchase while simultaneously collecting your card's data. The customer thinks they made an innocent purchase when in reality, scammers have just collected their credit card information.

Due to the discrete nature of "skimmers," these devices can stay in place for a long period of time, which makes this a big problem, police said on Twitter. "Skimmers" are commonly found in ATMs, gas station pumps and "unmonitored" pay stations.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers often don't notice their information was stolen until the bank sends a statement or an overdraft notice.

To avoid being a victim to this scam, here are a few tips to spot these devices so you can protect your financial security.

Although "skimmers" are small, these devices are not impossible to find. Las Vegas Metro Police said on Twitter that compromised credit card machines with "skimmers" often stick out and are noticeably different than other PIN pads.

You can further check to see if there's a "skimming" device inserted in the machine by pulling on the PIN-pad hood. By pulling on the hood, the skimmer may come loose from the credit card terminal, police said.

https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/skimming#:~:text=Tips%20When%20Using%20an%20ATM%20or%20POS%20Terminal&text=Look%20for%20anything%20loose%2C%20crooked,cameras%20from%20recording%20your%20entry.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation says consumers should inspect ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and other card readers before using them. If the machine appears to be crooked, damaged or scratched then you shouldn't use it.

Las Vegas Metro Police recommends that if you find a "skimming" device, do not tamper with it. Instead, alert a store employee and call "311."

And as always, it's important to contact your financial institution if your credit card information was stolen or comprised. Be vigilant, pay attention to your online banking app and be safe!