<p>The news of the brutal attack on a woman inside an unguarded ATM booth on the busy JC Road in Bangalore early morning on Tuesday has sent shock waves across the entire nation.<br /><br /></p>.<p> The woman, a bank manager, had come to an ATM to withdraw money for her child’s birthday and is in a critical condition and the police is still hunting for the attacker, despite CCTV footage of the incident being available. <br /><br />Naturally, there is palpable anger in the minds of the citizens. There appears to be zero fear of law and our pathetic system allows criminals to roam around free. Such incidents amply highlight the vulnerability of the urban Indian. <br /><br />Such an incident can happen to anyone and in any city. It is sad to see the total apathy of the government and the police, as well as the indifferent attitude of the banks. There is just no accountability in our system. When incidents like these take place, politicians lose no time to blame each other. Today the government and the local police are blaming the bank for not keeping a security guard and suggesting that the banks should monitor their ATMs through CCTVs and centralised control rooms.<br /><br />Easy prey<br /><br />No doubt ATMs are a great convenience, but they can compromise your safety. A robber looking for easy prey only has to stake out an ATM in a desolate area and bide his time. The number of ATMs in India has nearly doubled in the last 3 years and today there are one lakh ATMs in India. Of these, more than 50 per cent belong to 4 banks – SBI, Axis, HDFC and ICICI. No doubt the ATMs are helpful for those who travel a lot and who may require cash at odd times. It has been disclosed that more than 600 of Bangalore city’s 2,580 ATMs have no security guards. While there is no published statistics on ATM crime, one frequently reads reports of ATM robberies.<br /><br />Despite the intense public outcry over this violent incident, do not expect the system to change overnight or hope that such incidents will not repeat. Rather, you must learn to fend for yourself! Then what can the aam aadmi do to ensure his or her safety? Well, you can avoid becoming a victim by using some common sense and by planning ahead for ATM withdrawals. <br /><br />Always look around you when you approach an ATM booth and pay attention to your surroundings. You should also use ATMs you are familiar with (and preferably one which has a security guard and is well lit!) and avoid ATMs in less secure locations. Keep your card ready for use and make sure no one is ‘stalking’ you. <br /><br />Never count the dispensed cash at the machine or in public. Wait until you are in your car or another secure place. After all, errors in ATMs are rare! Once inside the booth, do look at the machine before inserting your card to make sure there is no ‘skimming’ device attached. When entering your PIN, use your other hand to cover the keypad. Also, memorize your PIN and never write it on the back of your card. You should also never allow a stranger to ‘guide’ you through an ATM transaction.<br /><br />Be wary of ATMs which are ‘out of order’ – it may be a ploy to direct you to a nearby tampered ATM. And yes, please do not wear expensive jewellry or take other valuables to the ATM. This is an added incentive to the assailant and you may be inviting trouble.<br />If you are visiting ATMs to deposit cash, maintain a supply of deposit envelopes at home and do all the paperwork prior to your arrival at the ATM. This will minimise the amount of time spent at the machine.<br /><br />Closely monitor your bank statements, as well as your balances, and immediately report any discrepancies to your bank. Avoid paying cash as far as possible and instead make maximum use of your credit card. After all, in USA people avoid carrying cash for fear of being mugged and use a credit card for a transaction of even 50 cents! This way you will also have a record of all your purchases. (If you do not have a credit card, apply for one right away.)<br /><br /> And lastly, if you happen to be confronted with an assailant who demands your money, comply! So the next time you need to withdraw money from an ATM, take care.<br /></p>
<p>The news of the brutal attack on a woman inside an unguarded ATM booth on the busy JC Road in Bangalore early morning on Tuesday has sent shock waves across the entire nation.<br /><br /></p>.<p> The woman, a bank manager, had come to an ATM to withdraw money for her child’s birthday and is in a critical condition and the police is still hunting for the attacker, despite CCTV footage of the incident being available. <br /><br />Naturally, there is palpable anger in the minds of the citizens. There appears to be zero fear of law and our pathetic system allows criminals to roam around free. Such incidents amply highlight the vulnerability of the urban Indian. <br /><br />Such an incident can happen to anyone and in any city. It is sad to see the total apathy of the government and the police, as well as the indifferent attitude of the banks. There is just no accountability in our system. When incidents like these take place, politicians lose no time to blame each other. Today the government and the local police are blaming the bank for not keeping a security guard and suggesting that the banks should monitor their ATMs through CCTVs and centralised control rooms.<br /><br />Easy prey<br /><br />No doubt ATMs are a great convenience, but they can compromise your safety. A robber looking for easy prey only has to stake out an ATM in a desolate area and bide his time. The number of ATMs in India has nearly doubled in the last 3 years and today there are one lakh ATMs in India. Of these, more than 50 per cent belong to 4 banks – SBI, Axis, HDFC and ICICI. No doubt the ATMs are helpful for those who travel a lot and who may require cash at odd times. It has been disclosed that more than 600 of Bangalore city’s 2,580 ATMs have no security guards. While there is no published statistics on ATM crime, one frequently reads reports of ATM robberies.<br /><br />Despite the intense public outcry over this violent incident, do not expect the system to change overnight or hope that such incidents will not repeat. Rather, you must learn to fend for yourself! Then what can the aam aadmi do to ensure his or her safety? Well, you can avoid becoming a victim by using some common sense and by planning ahead for ATM withdrawals. <br /><br />Always look around you when you approach an ATM booth and pay attention to your surroundings. You should also use ATMs you are familiar with (and preferably one which has a security guard and is well lit!) and avoid ATMs in less secure locations. Keep your card ready for use and make sure no one is ‘stalking’ you. <br /><br />Never count the dispensed cash at the machine or in public. Wait until you are in your car or another secure place. After all, errors in ATMs are rare! Once inside the booth, do look at the machine before inserting your card to make sure there is no ‘skimming’ device attached. When entering your PIN, use your other hand to cover the keypad. Also, memorize your PIN and never write it on the back of your card. You should also never allow a stranger to ‘guide’ you through an ATM transaction.<br /><br />Be wary of ATMs which are ‘out of order’ – it may be a ploy to direct you to a nearby tampered ATM. And yes, please do not wear expensive jewellry or take other valuables to the ATM. This is an added incentive to the assailant and you may be inviting trouble.<br />If you are visiting ATMs to deposit cash, maintain a supply of deposit envelopes at home and do all the paperwork prior to your arrival at the ATM. This will minimise the amount of time spent at the machine.<br /><br />Closely monitor your bank statements, as well as your balances, and immediately report any discrepancies to your bank. Avoid paying cash as far as possible and instead make maximum use of your credit card. After all, in USA people avoid carrying cash for fear of being mugged and use a credit card for a transaction of even 50 cents! This way you will also have a record of all your purchases. (If you do not have a credit card, apply for one right away.)<br /><br /> And lastly, if you happen to be confronted with an assailant who demands your money, comply! So the next time you need to withdraw money from an ATM, take care.<br /></p>
