Today I stopped at the ATM that is close to my parents house after I visited with my Dad for a bit. Well this particular bank has two different ATMs and two different lanes; one right up next to the bank and the other one a bit farther out under an awning (but right next to the first ATM).
Well as I drove up, I saw what appeared to be a maintenance man or some kind of service-employee (rigged up with a belt and tools) doing something with some tools on the face of the ATM. I saw a unmarked van sitting there, running nearby in the parking lot. I didn’t pay much attention to it-as I thought it was routine ATM maintenance-as I drove around into the first lane.
As I’m sitting there, about to insert my card, the man who I thought was a maintenance guy, who was right outside standing in front of the other ATM, waved at me to get my attention. I rolled my passenger window down a bit to hear what he wanted and heard this: *“Hey man, you know how you take money from your checkbook, right?” * My response: “What??” Him: * “Well, you know how you take money out from your checking account here?” * At this point, I realized he was talking about the ATM. Me: (a little annoyed and confused already) “Uh, yeah?” Him: “Well I’m having a really hard time here, m”-Me: (interjecting): “I’m sorry, I can’t help you man.” Him: “Oh, you can’t?! Really? Wowww!” At that point I just rolled up my window and finished my transaction and got out of there.
Now what the fuck was that? Was it some scheme to rob me (it was in Flint)? Was it honestly just some really, really, really dumb fuck who didn’t understand the concept of an ATM? The guy was definitely doing something weird with some kind of device when I drove up to the bank parking lot. He wasn’t simply trying to put an ATM card (or any other type of card) into an ATM machine. And while he appeared to be in full control of his faculties (I know looks can be deceiving), he spoke like someone with a sub-70 I.Q. He looked like a Hell’s Angel, though; biker gear from head-to-toe. So perhaps it was some really, really, really dumb fuck who was trying to rob me? The whole thing was extremely odd and unsettling. And a bit funny. But I have no idea what it was.
If I had to guess, it was somebody who’s never used an ATM, and thought there was a way to withdraw money with a check. He might have been using a tool to try to pry open the door for deposits, thinking he could stick a check in there and somehow get cash.
Yeah, that stood out to me. A complete stranger sitting in their car at an ATM doesn’t want to help some creepy looking biker-guy who is just standing outside the next ATM? Gee, what nerve.
My favourite sports bar is in an area where there are many street people. Often drunk and/or drugged, and looking for a handout.
If I need cash when I’m at the sports bar, I have a choice: go to the ATMs at the bank across the street (service charge is nothing), or use the ATMs inside the sports bar (service charge is $2). It’s worth $2 to me to not be bothered by people looking for a handout. So I’ll use the sports bar’s ATMs, in order to not be bugged by street people who can see that I’ve just drawn cash from a bank’s ATM.
Thus I said “both.” It’s stupid, sure; but it also could involve a bunch of his buddies materializing out of nowhere and looking for a piece of the action. As they sometimes do outside the bank across from my local sports bar.
Sounds like he was installing a skimmer or something to me. His asking for help was probably trying to trick you into inserting your card into the rigged machine.
A person acting dumb may well be some kind of con artist. As a knowledgeable person, he may present a threat - as a dolt, he poses no threat - as the smart one, YOU are in charge of the situation.
You wouldn’t expect a person who can’t figure out an ATM to be able to rob or cheat clever you! So you may take pity on the poor dummy and help him use his card - by demonstrating using your card and PIN (entered slowly while he watches).
Under how many situations would you let a stranger look over your shoulder while you enter your PIN?
Perhaps, and you may all mock my stupidity, he was trying to get cash from his account using a check rather than an ATM card. I never needed to do this in my life until I lost my ATM card and was waiting on a replacement. The bank had to explain it to me.
But, I have no explanation for the device unless it was the canister for the tube, something he was trying to write on or even a tablet he was using to look up instructions for the action on the internet.
Not sure if he was dumb or a scammer. Either way, I would have reported it to the bank ASAP. If the branch was open, I would have gone in and reported it. Banks don’t want their clients harassed. They would have sent security out to: assist the man, if he needed help; escort him off the property if he had no legitimate business there; or, (possibly) detain him until law enforcement arrived if he was committing a crime.
I totally agree you did the right thing reporting it, sounds super scammy.
But I am mostly posting in this thread to say: Whoah, DRIVE THRU ATMS!?!?!? That sounds fooking brilliant to a lazy person like myself. What other things are drive-thru where you live?
Americans, collectively, seem to be a profoundly lazy lot! Can it be possible that the rest of the world is as lazy as us? (What? They don’t have drive-through ATM’s on your side of the Pond too?)
One of Americans’ favorite pass-times is trying-to-get-the-absolutely-closest-parking-space. When an American motorist sees a person approaching a car in a parking space, looking like he’s about to get in and drive away, and that space is close to the motorist’s destination, said motorist will sit and wait for said space, regardless of the traffic jams he may cause in the process, instead of driving on to that empty space just one aisle away. Every. Fucking. Time. Do they do that in Merrie Auld Englande too?
During flu season, my HMO even runs drive-through flu-shot clinics. Drive in, roll down your window, roll up your sleeve, get your jab, and drive off.
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The whole thing was extremely odd and unsettling. And a bit funny. But I have no idea what it was.