5 signs an ATM has been tampered with

ATM fraud is a thriving business with a rise in the US of 546% in the last year, while up to 2,500 Britons fall victim to fraud at ATM’s every week, leaving Australians travelling on holiday or business wide open to theft.

Whether you are home or abroad, knowing what to look out for is paramount to keeping your money safe.

Fraud at the cash teller can happen in a few different ways so Daily Mail offers five ways to tell of your ATM has been tampered with

1.Criminals place card or capture devices and PIN compromise devices in or around ATMS. They may install entire false fronts to ATMs to capture PINS and money.

2.An unusually bulky card slot may suggest a “skimmer”. A skimmer is a tool attached to ATM that swipes your card details, and is very hard to spot.

3.A blocked or loose card slot may suggest the presence of a “Lebanese loop”. This is a tiny sleeve with a hook like barb that captures your card in the machine. You will continue to enter your PIN and then walk away, believing your card was swallowed.

4.If PIN pad feels loose, thick or spongey it may be a fake. This is known as a ‘pin-pad overlay’ which allows criminals to capture your PIN number. Sometimes they are even transferred by WiFi to recording device.

5.Be aware of your surroundings, not just the machine. Someone standing too close, or trying to distract you. Usually criminals work in teams and distraction is a popular technique.