# New ATM scam. Watch out. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 21, 2002, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221 "2002-06-21T06:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Neptune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@Neptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptune)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/1 "2002-06-21T06:27:19Z")
I got this in my email today: Please be aware The latest ATM scam involves thieves putting a thin, clear, rigid plastic ‘sleeve’ into the ATM card slot. When you insert your card, the machine can’t read the strip, so it keeps asking you to re-enter your PIN number. Meanwhile, someone behind you watches as you tap in your number. Eventually you give up, thinking the machine has swallowed your card and you walk away. The thieves then remove the plastic sleeve complete with card, and empty your account. The way to avoid this is to run your finger along the card slot before you put your card in. The sleeve has a couple of tiny prongs that the thieves need to get the sleeve out of the slot, and you’ll be able to feel them. The police would like as many people as possible to be aware of this scam, so pass this on to your friends. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/2 "2002-06-21T06:37:38Z")
This is actually a scam that’s been around a couple of years. According to [Snopes](http://www.snopes2.com/inboxer/scams/atmtheft.htm), > [@](#): > > …although the e-mail is suspect, the type of theft it warns ATM users to be wary of is possible. There are two forms of the “Lebanese loop,” both of which can net a card thief your ATM card and your PIN, a combination known to be deadly to one’s bank account. (Not all ATMs – particularly more recent models – can be fooled through this technique, however.) See the link above for methods of avoiding getting cleaned out. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/3 "2002-06-21T06:39:41Z")
Looks like this one’s for real. [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/atmtheft.htm) says it is. The article also offers some more good advice on ATM usage to avoid getting scammed. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/4 "2002-06-21T06:41:47Z")
A genuine Snopes Simulpost! Woooo-hooo! ---
**Author:** ![xcheopis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/5 "2002-06-21T06:43:39Z")
Pass it on to my friends? Hell, I’m getting myself a plastic sleeve! ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/6 "2002-06-21T10:56:19Z")
Excuse me… “just assume that the machine has swallowed your card”??? I don’t think so. Sorry, when you press cancel on the ATM it cancels the transaction, and will give you your card back. If the card is stuck, it shuts the ATM machine down totally. I don’t really see how this will work… ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/7 "2002-06-21T10:58:15Z")
Damn, Misread the OP. Still I don’t even think the sleeve thing will really work. But what the hell…I’m not an innovative thief. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/8 "2002-06-21T12:02:30Z")
I don’t see how the sleeve would work, either. > [@](#): > > When you insert your card, the machine can’t read the strip, so it keeps asking you to re-enter your PIN number. Seems to me that if the machine can’t read the card, it won’t even ASK for your PIN number. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/9 "2002-06-21T12:07:19Z")
Why would anyone walk away if their atm card is swallowed by the machine? That’s the reason they put those bank hotline phones next to atm machines. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/10 "2002-06-21T12:35:31Z")
The other popular scam in the UK is common at ATMs near pubs at late evening: when you’re a bit tipsy, someone watches you enter your PIN over your shoulder, then when you’re card is returned asks whether a £20 note (genuine) that is on the ground belongs to you. As you pick up the note, they swipe the card. Drunk ATM users won’t notice their card is missing, since the ATM still delivers their money (as the card has been withdrawn) and they’ve made £20 on top. Friend of mine lost £500 in 10 minutes that way. Thieves cleaned out his account at two other ATMs. ---
**Author:** ![flapcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@flapcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flapcats)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/11 "2002-06-21T23:43:34Z")
I’ve only ever had e-mails saying that (crusoe’s post) will happen to me, never heard a first-person cite. A solution is to put your foot on the note, turn briefly to the kind soul saying you’ve dropped a £20, say ‘thank you’ - take your money and your card and then pick up the £20\* BTW, I’m told it happens in Camden a lot. - Run if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-atm-scam-watch-out/115221/12 "2002-06-22T00:48:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Why would anyone walk away if their atm card is swallowed by the machine? That’s the reason they put those bank hotline phones next to atm machines. I’ve had a machine swallow a card on me twice. The first time I entered the wrong pin number three times in a row. I had recently changed it and I was rather stoned… It pretty much just flashed a blank screen at me and then the welcome screen came up for the next customer. It was the middle of the night and there wasn’t much I could do so I just shrugged and walked away. The second time I flat out drove away from a drive-up without realizing it. I didn’t even know I’d done it until I went to use it again and couldn’t find it anywhere. Both times I had to go to the bank during working hours to retrieve it, but I never even thought to call right at that moment. (and I don’t know that I can recall ever seeing an emergency phone by an ATM) I don’t see what calling some number in non-working hours is going to accomplish. About the only thing they could say is “Well, your card is currently stashed inside a large steel machine. Unless you have some dynamite on you, you’ll come back when the bank’s open and we’ll return it.” Are there really emergency phones? Anyone ever called one, and what did they do to help? bella–intrigued