*Bit of caution for those using machines of SBI, BOB etc.* **
*A bit of adhesive is all thats needed to steal from ATM * Kolkata: Beware if the ATM screen goes blank after you swipe your card.It could be a mischief by fraudsters to withdraw cash from your account after you leave the ATM in a huff.A bit of adhesive and a screwdriver are all thats needed to outwit hi-tech safety gadgets. These swindlers are part of a powerful inter-state network spread across the country.The Assam police and the Kolkata police have recently rounded up three swindlers who have mastered the tampering of ATMs.The trick applies only to ATM machines that need a customer to insert and extract the card to start operations (as opposed to ATMs where the card pops out after the transaction is complete ).Many nationalized banks,including SBI and Bank of Baroda,use this system at their ATMs,most of which are unmanned. So,what is this low-tech,highly effective modus operandi Fraudsters,who generally strike in pairs,enter ATM by swiping valid debit card at the gate,press down a key on keyboard and stick it with adhesive so that it does not return to its original position.This switches on the machine.They then walk out and wait for a victim to step into the trap. When a customer enters the ATM and swipes the card,he does not realize that the machine is already on.A message flashes for him to key his PIN,which he does.But since the machine has been switched on in an improper way,the screen goes blank automatically as a security feature to stop fraudulent withdrawals. The customer thinks it is a system fault and gives it a second try.He has no clue that the two customers getting impatient outside are actually criminals waiting to steal his money.They start abusing him for taking too much time and force him to leave in a huff.Exit customer,enter fraudster.They simply use a screwdriver to release the key.The ATM restarts automatically.What it has in store is PIN of the last customer who swiped his card.The SBI has been receiving several such complaints. We were at a loss to locate the fraud because the CCTVs showed the customer swiping his card.But customers complained that they couldnt withdraw money, an SBI official said. -- With best wishes S Chander
