I’m Olivia, Savings & Loans’ Senior Forensic Analyst. A big part of my job here is making sure that members are given the information and tools to help keep their money safe.
Over the past few weeks, you may have seen media reports about ‘skimmers’ being attached to ATMs to allow criminals to access people’s card details. This isn’t something that members should be particularly alarmed about, but there are a few steps that you can take to minimise the risk of your card being compromised.
First, it might be good to explain the process involved in “skimming”:
1. A magnetic card reader is attached to an ATM over the card entry slot. This captures all of the information on your card’s magnetic stripe as it’s inserted into the ATM.
2. A small camera is fitted near the ATM to record a user’s PIN after they have inserted their card.
3. The information from the magnetic card reader and the camera is transmitted to criminals.
4. The criminals manufacture a false card using the information contained on your magnetic strip and withdraw funds using the PIN recorded with the camera.
That may sound a little daunting, but there are a few simple things that you can do to help keep you safe from skimming:
1. Cover your hand whenever entering your PIN. The scammers rely on capturing your PIN to withdraw money so anything you can do to shield your hand is a step in the right direction. Remember this when using an ATM or paying via EFTPOS.
2. Look out for strange ‘add-ons’ or changes to ATMs or EFTPOS terminals. Devices vary from machine to machine but will always be near the card entry point. (Remember that Savings & Loans’ ATMs have recently changed over to rediATMs but are still as safe and secure as they’ve always been.)
If you think an ATM has been tampered with, don’t use it. Report it as soon as possible to Savings & Loans or the financial institution who owns the ATM. If you’ve already used a machine and think that someone’s tampered with it, call us straight away so we can cancel your card and have it replaced.
Remember to regularly check your accounts for any transactions you don’t recognise. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, contact Savings & Loans immediately.
You shouldn’t be worried about accessing your accounts with Savings & Loans, as long as you use some common sense. If something doesn’t seem right, call us on 13 11 82.
For more tips on keeping your money safe, visit savingsloans.com.au/security
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