As we’ve said time and time again, a criminal mind is one of the most innovative ones. Seemingly innocuous, “smart” thieves accomplish their deed literally under one’s nose. The biggest example is theft through the ATMs. Technologically savvy, the thieves, some of who are high school and college students, manage to copy the card details and password. Tales abound on various tricks deployed by them, including setting up a camera inside the ATM machine or rigging it to get the card stuck.
An acquaintance narrated yet another trick through which he lost a handsome amount to these nimble thieves. Moving away from an ATM in a shopping mall, he bumped into a small crowd. Hardly had he gone some distance, when a young boy ran after him waving our friend’s wallet, which the youngster said had been dropped. This person checked the contents and found the money intact but the ATM card was missing. He went back to the ATM machine but could not locate the card. In a while his mobile phone started pinging with messages of transactions made at various shops via his card. By the time he could contact his bank and block the card, the substantial damage had been done. Later, scanning CCTV footage, it was found that the person standing behind him in the queue at the ATM machine had been filming him on a mobile phone as he entered the pin number. His pocket was picked and only the card removed. And a few quick purchases were made at the mall before the card was blocked.
So, one more precaution to add to the list while withdrawing money: Beware anyone standing right behind with a mobile phone. He or she may appear to be checking messages but in reality simply be noting the pin number before stealing the card.