ATM and security: A button that can protect your money

After withdrawing money from an ATM experts advise pressing the button “Cancel”do not print a check and check transactions through the banking application.

When using an ATM many people take the money and immediately leave without paying attention to the final screen. However, experts advise pressing the button after completing the operation “Cancel”. This simple step helps ensure that the card session is truly closed.

According to data cited by Spanish financial experts, cash remains one of the most popular payment methods in brick-and-mortar stores. Therefore, the safety of operations with ATMs remains an important topic, especially for older people and those who regularly withdraw money in cash.

One common mistake is to print a paper receipt after a transaction and then throw it away next to the ATM. Such a check may contain sensitive information: account balance, part of the card number or other data that can be used by fraudsters.

That is why, instead of a paper check, it is recommended to check transactions and balances through bank mobile application. Modern banking applications allow you to monitor the movement of money in real time and eliminate the need to leave behind paper trails. A piece of paper at an ATM, of course, looks harmless until it is picked up by a person with imagination and bad intentions.

Why click the Cancel button?

Pressing a button “Cancel” After receiving the money, it helps you complete the session associated with your card. This reduces the risk that the ATM will remain active after a transaction or display data that others should not see.

In a normal situation, the ATM itself completes the operation after dispensing money and returning the card. But an extra push “Cancel” is a simple habit that takes a second and adds another layer of protection.

It is especially important not to leave the ATM until you have withdrawn:

• bank card;
• cash;
• if necessary — check, if you still requested its printing.

If the ATM behaves unusually, does not return the card, freezes or shows strange messages, you need to immediately press “Cancel”do not accept help from random people and contact the bank.

Why it’s better to avoid paper checks

A printed receipt after surgery can become a source of unnecessary risks. Even if the full card number is not indicated on it, individual data can help scammers collect information about the account owner or use it in further deception.

If the receipt has been printed, you cannot simply throw it in the trash bin near the ATM. It is better to take it with you and destroy it so that the data cannot be read: tear it into small pieces or use a shredder.

It is much safer to control your balance and transaction history through the bank’s official application. The main thing is not to follow suspicious links from SMS or email and do not enter bank information on unknown pages.

How to protect yourself at an ATM

Before using an ATM, you should pay attention to the place where it is installed. It is better to choose devices in well-lit places: inside bank branches, shopping centers or on busy streets.

ATMs in isolated areas should be avoided, especially if there are suspicious people nearby or someone trying to force help.

Before inserting the card, check:

• are there any strange overlays on the card reader;
• does the keyboard look unusual?
• are there any small cameras or foreign objects nearby;
• Is the ATM itself damaged?

Fraudsters can install card copying devices on ATMs – skimmers. They are often attached to the card reader or keyboard and may look like part of the device.

When entering PIN code Be sure to cover the keyboard with your hand. This protects the code from hidden cameras and from people who might be standing too close.

What not to do

Never accept help from strangers at an ATM, even if the person seems friendly and says they just want to give you advice. Sometimes such “help” is used to distract attention, steal cards, money or data.

If the ATM has retained your card, do not go far and immediately contact the bank using the official number. Do not call the numbers posted next to the ATM unless you are sure that this is the real bank number.

If you have withdrawn a large amount, you should not display the money or count it in front of others. It is better to immediately remove the cash and, if possible, not to walk alone along a deserted street afterwards.

In short: a safe habit

After an operation at an ATM, you should follow a simple procedure: withdraw the money, take the card, refuse the unnecessary paper check, press “Cancel” and make sure that the screen has returned to its original state.

This does not guarantee absolute protection from fraudsters, but it reduces the risk of common mistakes. And typical mistakes are exactly what criminals most often make money from. They rarely need a brilliant plan if the user leaves the receipt, card, open session and PIN almost gift-wrapped.

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