Exercise caution when making an ATM withdrawal, particularly from a machine that is located in a non-bank environment, such as a grocery store, deli, or shopping mall. Follow these simple steps:
Perform an ATM Inspection
Before swiping your card, consumers should examine ATMs for tell-tale signs of skimmers. Visible glue marks around the reader or PIN pad are a sign of tampering.
Perform an ATM Area Inspection
Consumers should look around the ATM area to see if anything looks out of the ordinary. For instance, are there brochures near the keypad, possibly hiding a miniature camera? Legitimate security cameras for banks will be clearly visible, while miniature cameras can easily be hidden and very small in size.
Cover Your PIN
When you type in your PIN, use your other hand to shield the keypad to block it from hidden cameras. This will also help protect your information from “shoulder surfers,” thieves who stand off to the side and try to record your PIN.
Know Which ATMs to Pay Special Attention To
ATMs in heavily trafficked areas like malls, airports, and gas stations can have skimmers attached and may go unnoticed for a long period of time because there usually isn’t anyone nearby monitoring the machines.
Know When to Use Your Credit Card
In situations where your card goes out of your line of sight (like at a restaurant or hotel), use a credit card rather than a debit card. Many times you are afforded protections through your credit card company that are not available with your debit card.
Report anything suspicious immediately.
Westchester County requires all non-bank ATMs to be registered. It's the law. Look for the seal. If you have a problem, this will enable you to trace the machine's ownership. Try to avoid using machines that are not registered or not part of a bank.