The National Police has warned about the risks that exist at withdraw cash at ATMs and has disseminated a series of recommendations, aimed especially at older people. Agents insist on the importance of remaining alert to any attempt at distraction or deception when operating with an ATM.
This notice responds to a increase in robberies and robberies related to tactics to capture the victim’s attention and gain access to their funds. They use different techniques and a momentary oversight can be enough to suffer a huge robbery, giving them the opportunity to break into a personal bank account.
Among the main guidelines transferred by the National Police is the recommendation of distrust proximity from any apparently unrelated individual, especially at the stage in which the user enters the PIN. Perform this action covering the keyboardand avoiding interacting with strangers during cash withdrawal, are behaviors that significantly reduce the risk of incidents.
The institution expressly warns that, if there is any suspicion or if a stranger approaches in the middle of the operation, the user can press the cancel button at the cashier. This action immediately cuts off the process and provides an additional layer of security, preventing third parties from accessing the account.
Additionally, agents recommend taking precautions so that personal and banking data are not exposedsuch as not stopping to perform another action while they appear or not mentioning them out loud. It is also important to reject the help of a stranger, as it is one of the most used techniques to achieve a robbery, especially among older people.
The Police remember that the older people They are usually the preferred victims of these criminal modalities. These people may have less understanding how ATMs work and, therefore, be most vulnerable to fall into the trap of accepting unsolicited help from a stranger. In addition, they tend to carry out cash withdrawal processes more slowly and show greater insecurity when handling these devices, which increases the risk of becoming a target for those seeking to commit robberies.
For this reason, they advise family and friends accompany the elderly whenever they need to withdraw cash. Sharing these safety tips with them and remaining alert can prevent robbery or robbery situations, in addition to scaring away potential thieves who have observed an elderly person preparing to withdraw cash at an ATM.
If you have been affected by an event of this type, the police recommend formalizing the report immediately at the nearest police station. Prompt communication allows the activation of investigation and protection protocols. According to the body, citizen collaboration and the dissemination of these recommendations contribute to reducing the risks associated with cash withdrawal and reinforce the security of all ATM users in the country.
