When using ATMs and terminals, it is very important to prevent third parties from knowing the PIN code and gaining access to money.
To do this, follow these guidelines:
- Never enter a PIN code on devices that are not designed for payment and cash withdrawal.
- When entering a PIN code, always cover the keyboard with your hand so that people nearby cannot peep it or record hidden cameras installed by intruders.
- After receiving cash from an ATM, do not forget to take the payment card from the card reader, and if you still forgot, immediately block it.
- To conduct payment transactions through an ATM or terminal, try not to resort to the help of unauthorized persons who may pretend to be bank employees.
- If the funds were not issued by the ATM, but you received an SMS message about their withdrawal, take the card from the card reader and immediately contact your bank.
- If possible, avoid ATMs located in crowded places, especially if you withdraw large amounts of money. Try to use ATMs in bank branches or inside the buildings of organizations and institutions.
- Set a daily limit on cash withdrawals from ATMs.
- When using an ATM, pay attention to whether foreign devices are installed on it. Installing a high-tech device called a “skimmer” on an ATM is a fairly common way to steal card data. The device reads information from the magnetic tape and the card chip so that it can then be duplicated. If you think that certain parts of the ATM look suspicious (they look different from the usual) or there are some additional details, do not use such an ATM and immediately report your suspicions to the bank.
Also check out our recommendations
“Card protection for online payments“.
Recommendations for the safe use of payment cards in a physical environment
1) Managing the PIN code and other codes/passwords
Keep your PIN, CVV2 / CVC2 / CID code or any other password related to the payment card secret:
- Do not tell your PIN number to anyone, not even to the members of your family.
Nobody has the right to demand your PIN, CVV2/CVC2/CID code or any other password.
The PIN is used for making in-person transactions with the card or at ATMs.
The CVV is used when making payments online or over the phone. - Try to remember the PIN number without writing it on the payment card or any other support;
- Even if you wrote the PIN number somewhere, make sure that this information is kept safe, separately from the payment card;
- Keep the card and the file containing sensitive authentication data received from the bank at the time of receipt of the card (PIN, CVV2/CVC2/CID) separately, to exclude their simultaneous possession, in case of unauthorized use.
- Enter the PIN number in a discreet way when making payments at POS terminals or at withdrawal of cash from banks’ ATMs, in order to avoid their reproduction and fraudulent use by third parties;
- Modify the PIN number (*) periodically.
- Do not use a combination of figures/common password for accessing all payment instruments;
- Contact immediately the bank and change the PIN number in case of suspicion regarding the unauthorized possession of the card by other persons.
2) Applying certain value limits of daily transactions made with the payment card
- In order to prevent fraud situations, activate the option of setting value limits for transactions made with the card. The limit represents the maximum value of transactions or a maximum number of operations that can be carried out daily/weekly/for a certain period, from the payment account attached the card.
3) Applying precautionary measures when using the payment card
- Check your bank’s website frequently for security measures when using the payment card and the bank’s contact details if necessary.
- In case of loss, theft or other suspicious situations, inform the bank immediately and request the locking of the card. Bankcard support services are available 24/7/365.
- Check the sum indicated on the screen of the POS terminal/ATM before the validation of the transaction.
4) Activation of notification services regarding the transactions performed
- Activate the SMS-notification service (**) to be immediately informed about the transactions made with the payment card.
- In the event of a payment card transaction failure, promptly check the balance of the account attached to the payment card, by viewing the content of notifications received or through internet-banking, mobile-banking applications or other means offered by the issuing bank in this respect.
5) Safe maintenance/use of payment card and keeping the confirming documents
- Keep the card in pertinent conditions to avoid damage, loss and theft, or compromise of data from the card;
- Sign the card on the reverse side, immediately upon receipt;
- Do not give the card to third parties;
- Ask to perform the operations at the merchant/bank’s counter only in your presence, do not allow its photographing or making copies by persons who are not authorized for such actions, to avoid the theft of data registered on the card that can be used when conducting transactions in the online environment;
- Avoid to store/send confidential information by phone, mail and/or other means of communication through unsecured channels;
- Ask for confirming documents or visualize the received notification after every transaction performed by a special device (ATM, POS terminal) and check carefully the information highlighted on the card (date, card number, first / last name, transaction amount, transaction currency);
- Keep all confirming documents related to the transactions so that you can compare them with the transactions described in the statement of account.
(*) This service is provided by banks, both at ATMs and via the automated remote service systems (internet-banking, mobile-banking, etc.).
(**) This service offers the possibility to receive notifications on the mobile device without having internet connection.
