Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

How safe are ATM premises?

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 27 � How safe are ATM premises, or how unsafe? Recent instances have revealed the insecurity that customers face while carrying out transactions in ATMs. In the latest instance, an employee of Guwahati High Court was victimised by unscrupulous persons who illegally withdrew Rs 15,000 from her account.

According to Gitashree Baishya, she had visited an SBI ATM at Rehabari on February 23 and tried to withdraw Rs 3,000 from one ATM. However, as the particular vending machine did not produce the beeping sounds while punching the security code, she moved on the next machine from where she withdrew the same amount.

On February 26, when she again sought to withdraw money, her account showed a much depleted amount. Subsequent enquiries revealed that some one had made an unauthorised withdrawal of Rs 15,000.

After lodging a formal complaint she and her husband came up with photos that showed a person standing just behind her, who in all likelihood had seen her key in the secret numbers.

Baishya believes that the situation would not have happened if there was adequate security in the ATM premises. It could also have been prevented if unnecessary presence of people inside the ATM kiosks was not the norm as it is at present.

Sources in the SBI when contacted said that it was not possible to employ guards in ATM kiosks because quite frequently they were found to be involved in frauds. He said that people have to be much more alert in using ATMs and must ask others to wait outside while machines were in use. He also revealed that machine manufacturers have been asked to carry out modifications as some criminals were using adhesive tapes to tamper with the machines.

Next Story