ATM fraud alert: Beware of cash-trapping techniques

Cash trapping is a method used by fraudsters to modify ATMs illegally. Anyone who withdraws cash is at risk. Cash trapping involves altering the cash slot so that the bills do not reach the user's hand but instead go into a secret compartment.

This method allows fraudsters to steal the banknotes the user intended to withdraw. It's nearly impossible to prevent this type of fraud, as it's difficult to determine at first glance whether an ATM has been tampered with. Similarly, users usually cannot notice if a machine has been fitted with a skimmer, which illegally reads keystrokes and card information.

As the term suggests, cash trapping involves "trapping" cash inside the machine. The money goes into a prepared compartment due to the alteration of the slot where the bills are dispensed. Although the money does not reach the client's hand, from the perspective of the ATM and its software, the transaction is considered successful because the money disappears through the slot that is supposed to dispense it. Consequently, the amount is deducted as usual from the bank client's account.

If you fall victim to this scam, the most important thing is to stay calm, not leave the ATM, and contact the ATM operator's technical support using publicly available phone numbers. When the appropriate technician arrives, they will physically recover the money from the machine, and the bank will manage the process so that the client is not disadvantaged.

However, this might not be possible if you leave the machine. It is critical not to mistakenly assume that the money was not dispensed due to an error and that the amount was not deducted from the account. The fraudster is likely observing the ATM from a close distance and waiting to take the cash physically.