What to watch for when withdrawing cash

Published 20 January 2005

Cash machine thieves are getting more sophisticated. These days they're high tech. It used to be you just had to watch behind you to see if someone was writing your pin number down. Now they've high tech electronic equipment to copy your card and film your pin number.

It can happen to anyone

Before I explain what to watch for, I think i'd best be honest. I got caught out with this once. The following is an extract from the 'Martin's Money Tip E-mail' I sent in October 2003 ....

“You of all people” was the response of the NatWest cards press office when I told them I got stung by a fraudulent credit card reader on Friday. I'd even spotted it.

There was a little extra piece of metal to guide the card into my local cash machine (NatWest's, though I don’t bank with them, and to be fair it isn’t their fault at all). I saw it and thought, “that’s new, but looks a bit dodgy”, however my card went in and the cash came out so I forgot about it.

Two days later I checked my statement and lo and behold £1,900 had been taken. Of course, the money will be paid back without a problem, it wasn’t my fault, it was fraud. Yet it's a simple warning, it can happen to anyone…… (he says through clenched teeth).

What to watch for

It's very simple, if the slot isn't flush and flat, don't put your card in. Even better, to be a good citizen call the bank and ask them to check. This will stop other people being caught out too.

Far better to call up thinking there's a problem and be wrong than to let lots of people be defrauded. After all, while people shouldn't pay the cost themselves, when the bank has to cover it, it effectively means it loads the cost onto us.

Rather than describe the problem, let me show you some pictures of what to watch for.