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S.A.F.E #2: A.T.M (Accessory To Muggings)



Welcome back, this is the second article of my S.A.F.E series. It discusses the importance of being aware when using cash machines. So many people become victims due to their lack of awareness and ignorance surrounding their personal security. I can only hope you take the time to read this article and the seize the opportunity to learn something new and or something you may draw upon in the future.

Introduced to London in 1967, the Automated Teller Machine, also known as the ATM, revolutionised the way we withdraw and deposit our hard-earned cash. At first glance it is nothing more than a machine with a screen, a few buttons and a dispenser for both cash and payslips. However, upon closer inspection, you may notice that these very machines that are intended to aid us in our need for cash can end up doing quite the opposite. Though it is not solely down to the machine, they can often be an accessory to muggings due to the lack of awareness people have when using them. Some people make themselves easy targets and victims at the hands of the ‘bad guys’ e.g. pickpockets and muggers.


 

Time is money

You should endeavor to use cash machines during the day, but in the likely scenario you require an ATM in the evening or late at night, keep your wits about you. Awareness buys you time and time buys you options. If you have already noticed the group of guys loitering around the corner, you have time to make decisions and think of an appropriate and preventive course of action.


As mentioned in a previous post, personal security and self-defence is mainly about prevention, for preventing something is much more effective and easier than handling it. Statistics show that most attacks and muggings, in general, occur in the evening and or late at night. This is down to a number of reasons: being in darkness plays into the hands of the aggressor as their identity remains hidden not only from you, their intended victim, but witnesses and also CCTV cameras in the area. Furthermore, you are less likely to see them approaching under the shadow of darkness thus you will not have time to react and defend yourself.

Before you insert your card into the machine, look around. Before you select the amount of money you desire, look around. Before inputting your pin, look around. Whilst waiting for the machine to action your request, guess what? LOOK AROUND!

Awareness buys you time and time buys you options.


 

Location, Location, Location



When in need of an ATM you should endeavour to use one that is not in secluded area.

Where possible, I would strongly suggest that you use machines located in some sort of establishment such as a bank, corner shop or supermarket. Doing so mitigates your chances of being a victim as these establishments will most likely have CCTV cameras, may have customers walking around and may also have Security Officers stood by the entrance; all of these factors are physical and visible deterrents that would make would-be attackers, robbers and muggers think twice. Moreover, the machines in these establishments are less likely to be tampered with or have skimmers on them (more on this later).


Remember to always look at your surroundings and the people within it. To you, it could appear to be an automated teller machine, however, to the guys at the bus stop pretending to wait for a bus it is an accessory to their intended mugging. Look around properly and once you have looked around, guess what? Look around some more - be in the moment and do not allow yourself to get distracted. Trust me, there is no rush, cash machines do not have a closing time. You’d rather be safe than sorry, always. Once you start to put steps like this into practice, they become habitual to the point where you do them automatically, without thought.


I remember about a year ago when the screen on my phone had cracked, I took it to a store to get it fixed. I was told the repairs would cost £210, cash only. I did some research and found that to be the cheapest price in the area as it was a phone that was brand new at the time. I do not walk around with £210 in my pocket, so I of course had to use a cash machine to withdraw the required amount. As you can imagine, I was frustrated with the expense and just wanted to get the whole transaction over and done with. I looked for the nearest ATM and found one which was around the corner from the store on a quiet high street.


Whilst approaching the machine I noticed a group of hooded guys huddled in a circle quite close to it. It was not only their presence near the machine which deterred me from using it, but also the fact that they were watching anybody and everybody who used the machine and or walked past it. For obvious reasons I decided to walk past and enter a bank which was about 2 mins away to withdraw my money.


By observing your surroundings you able to identify a potential threat and prevent anything from occurring.


 

Improbable, but not impossible



You would be surprised at the lengths some fraudsters would go to obtain your precious bank details. Ever heard of skimmers or skimming? In short, skimmers are small devices used by fraudsters to steal information from debit and credit cards. They are often placed over the ‘insert card’ section of an ATM machine. With each card inserted into the machine the skimmer collects the card number, expiration date and the card holder's full name, all that is needed to run up a stupendous bill. This information is then used to make fraudulent purchases online and create counterfeit cards to be used and sold elsewhere.


Do not assume you will never encounter these devices for that would make you two steps behind those that create and use them. Like the title of this section states, it is not impossible it is just improbable you may encounter them. Before inserting my card into any machine, I firmly pull and press on various parts of the machine to see if there are any loose external devices that have been attached.



 

In summary, when in need of an A.T.M, ensure you use an automated teller machine.

A machine that is safely located in a business or shop and will give you your cash.

Make sure not to use an accessory to muggings, an A.T.M that is in a secluded area, surrounded by undesirables and may cause you to get the very asset you ask from it being taken, your money. Though it is unlikely, but If you are reading this and happen to work for a business that installs cash machines, may I humbly suggest that you install convex mirrors so the user can see their surroundings from behind whilst using the machine. Also, remove the sound effects on the machines. The audible beeping when using a machine late at night draws unnecessary attention. I do not want the whole world knowing I am withdrawing cash!

To further your knowledge on this topic, here is a link pertaining to britain’s most dangerous cash points: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6079027/Britains-dangerous-cash-points.html


Below is a video that illustrates all the dangers of not paying attention to your surroundings when using card machines. I'd encourage you to watch and learn from the mistakes made by this unfortunate victim.



 

Thank you for reading!


Be careful out there, this place we call earth can be very dangerous.


Stay safe. Stay blessed. Work hard. Don't stress.


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