Crime cases and countermeasures by scene <Using cash cards at overseas ATMs>

Criminals may attach a device called a "skimmer" to one of the ATMs and then make it appear that the others are out of order to encourage customers to use the ATM with the skimmer installed.

Be careful when using your cash card at airports, stations, bus terminals or shopping malls, because ATMs are used even late at night or in the early morning, criminals are rarely suspected of wrongdoing when installing skimmers on ATMs at odd times.

While at a famous overseas tourist destination, I tried withdrawing money from my account at an ATM. The first ATM I tried gave me an error after I entered my PIN, and I was unable to make a withdrawal, but I was able to successfully use another ATM nearby. Shortly after returning home from my trip, I got an alert email notifying me of an overseas withdrawal, and I knew that my cash card had been counterfeited. I quickly called the telephone number in the alert email and had them freeze my account, so the damage was limited to a single withdrawal.

How to Take Countermeasures (Precautions)

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There are possibilities that people coming to talk to you while you are using an ATM are members of criminal groups.

I was using an unfamiliar foreign ATM. For safety, I decided to use an ATM located in a bank branch, but the ATM's display was in the local language and I didn't know how to use it. Someone lining up behind me kindly offered to help me out. I was able to withdraw money from my account, so I thanked them and left. Later, after having a meal, I opened my wallet to pay and noticed that I didn't have my cash card. I quickly contacted the call center and learned that there had been an unauthorized withdrawal from my account. However, because I had set a low daily withdrawal limit, it was only possible for them to make a single withdrawal over the amount I had already withdrawn, limiting the damage.

How to Take Countermeasures (Precautions)

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"Shoulder surfing" involves a criminal watching you enter your PIN from behind and then using it to withdraw money from your account.

I needed to use an ATM overseas, so for safety's sake I made sure I used it during banking hours, and went inside the bank branch itself. I had no problems making my transaction, and successfully withdrew money from my account. After I had put the cash and my cash card in my wallet, I noticed someone lining up behind me, so I quickly left the ATM. I ran out of cash after doing some dining and shopping, so I tried making another withdrawal, but couldn't due to an insufficient balance. I thought this was strange, so I contacted the call center and discovered that there had been another withdrawal after I received my cash earlier. I had been relieved at getting the cash from the ATM and was concentrating on not forgetting my cash card. So when I saw someone lining up behind me, I rushed and forgot to press the "finish transaction" button on the ATM screen. However, I had transferred everything over the amount I had planned to use overseas to a different account that can't be used with my cash card, so the damages were kept to a minimum.

How to Take Countermeasures (Precautions)

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