Close-ups are safer. Expert on ATM and terminal withdrawals

Instead of inserting the card into an ATM or terminal, it is better to use these devices contactless or withdraw money via BLIK – advises expert Piotr Konieczny, editor-in-chief of the website niebezpiecznik.pl. Indicates setting a daily limit for withdrawals and transactions and setting instant notifications about them on your smartphone.

Over the weekend, the police received many reports from people from whose accounts money was withdrawn. Santander Bank Polska announced on Sunday that its monitoring had detected criminal transactions using customers' payment cards and that it had “implemented solutions that prevented criminals from further activities.” In a statement sent to PAP on Monday, the bank assured that the injured customers received their money back and the case was reported to the prosecutor's office. Santander noted that it is still working on the analysis of this incident, cooperating with law enforcement authorities and the operator.

One of the methods enabling the theft of funds from a customer's account is skimming, i.e. illegal copying of data from the magnetic stripe or payment card chip using special devices (skimmers) connected to ATMs, payment terminals or fuel pumps. Criminals install skimmers in the slots where the card is inserted. The overlay contains a hidden scanner that reads data from the card's magnetic stripe. Additionally, criminals install a miniature camera (e.g. in the housing of the upper part of the ATM) to steal the PIN. Another way to obtain the PIN is to install a fake overlay on the ATM keyboard, which allows them to copy the number entered by the customer. In this case, the withdrawal process is no different for the user than normal.

Piotr Konieczny from niebezpiecznik.pl, when asked how a consumer can protect himself against such activities, admitted that the average citizen may have great difficulty detecting a device for copying data from the card. “Therefore, it is better to approach the matter differently – use contactless ATMs and cash deposit machines. Instead of inserting the card and risking the magnetic strip being copied, you can tap the card. You can also use your smartphone (if you have payment cards configured on it) or withdraw money using the BLIK code,” he wrote.

The expert also emphasized that it is important to define daily limits for withdrawals or transfers from the card, as well as to enable immediate notifications from the bank about transactions. This will allow you to detect unauthorized operations faster or prevent them altogether.

Specialists warn against very sensitive skimmers that can copy data from the magnetic stripe of cards, e.g. in means of transport or other public places. They advise keeping cards in special covers that prevent remote scanning of data from cards equipped with RFID chips.

They emphasize never giving the card to a third party (e.g. a waiter in a restaurant who explains, for example, that the payment terminal is in the back room). They also advise you to always carefully inspect the money-paying device and always cover the PIN numbers you are entering with your hand. (PAP)

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