In the digital era, withdrawing cash from ATM has become very common, but with it the risk of new types of fraud is also increasing. In recent times, many cases have come to light regarding ATM thermal scanning scam. Through this technique, criminals try to guess the PIN by reading the heat marks made by fingers on the ATM keypad. This means that your ATM PIN can be stolen through thermal scanning. In such a situation, it has become very important to be extra cautious while using ATM.
What is ATM thermal scanning technology?
Thermal scanning is a technique through which an attempt is made to read the heat pattern present on the ATM keypad. When a person enters his PIN into an ATM machine, the heat of his fingers may remain on the pressed buttons for some time. Criminals can see these thermal traces with the help of special thermal cameras or scanning devices. On the basis of this, an attempt is made to find out which buttons have been used recently. Although this does not reveal the PIN directly, it can help criminals guess the PIN.
How does this new scam work?
If a criminal immediately reaches the machine after the completion of the ATM transaction, he can record the heat pattern present on the keypad. In a thermal camera, the button that appears hottest may be considered the most recently pressed button, while relatively less hot buttons may have been pressed earlier. By analyzing these thermal signals, criminals try to guess the PIN digits and their sequence. For example, if 3478 button is pressed on the ATM keypad, then the fraudster can guess the PIN by moving these numbers back and forth, which becomes very easy to crack. According to experts, this method is not successful every time, but still it is considered a potential risk from security point of view.
What is the difference between plastic and metal keypad?
The type of keypad used in ATM machines can also affect the effectiveness of this technology. Heat and fingerprints on plastic keypads can persist for some time, making them relatively easy to identify with the help of special equipment. In contrast, metal keypads dissipate heat faster and cool down quickly. This is the reason why gathering information through thermal scanning on a metal keypad is considered relatively difficult. In such a situation, touching the buttons of the number pad after using the ATM can be beneficial for the users.
What to do to avoid thermal scanning scam?
After withdrawing money from ATM, it is not enough to complete the transaction, but some small precautions are also necessary. While entering the PIN, always cover the keypad with your other hand so that no one or a camera can see your numbers. After the transaction is complete, lightly touch other buttons of the keypad, so that the same thermal mark is formed on all the buttons and it becomes difficult for anyone to guess the correct PIN. Apart from this, use a safe and away ATM and if you see any suspicious person nearby then become alert immediately or you can go to some other ATM.
stay safe like this
- While entering the PIN, cover the keypad with your other hand.
- After the transaction, also touch some other buttons on the keypad.
- Keep an eye on suspicious people present around the ATM.
- Avoid using abandoned or unsafe ATM machines.
- Do not share your ATM PIN with anyone.
- Keep changing the PIN from time to time.
- After the transaction, definitely check the SMS and alerts coming from the bank.
- If any suspicious activity is seen, inform the bank immediately.
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