Is "ATM card fraud" a scam?

Question

Is "ATM card fraud" a scam? How do I know, and what should I do?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is a known, dangerous scam. A skimmer fitted over the ATM card slot reads your card data while a pinhole camera or fake keypad overlay captures your PIN. Hours later, money is withdrawn from another city's ATM. Cover the keypad and prefer in-branch ATMs. Red flags: Card slot housing feels loose, sticky, or wobbles when you touch it before inserting • Keypad feels spongy, raised, or oddly thick — could be an overlay over the real keys • A small extra device or unusual brochure holder is fixed near the screen at PIN-entry height • Your card is debited at an ATM in a city you have not visited • Multiple withdrawals of ₹10,000 each (per-transaction limit) appear within minutes of each other • A stranger lingers at the ATM lobby offering 'help' with a stuck card. What to do: Wiggle the card slot before inserting — if anything moves or detaches, walk away and report to the bank • Always cover the keypad with your other hand while entering PIN — defeats overhead pinhole cameras • Prefer in-branch ATMs during banking hours over standalone street kiosks • Enable SMS alerts for every card transaction, even ₹1, so cloning shows up immediately • If money is debited fraudulently, call your bank's card-block helpline within 24 hours — RBI rules cap your liability if reported in time • File an FIR at the nearest police station and keep a copy for the bank's chargeback claim • Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (national cyber helpline).

Is “ATM card fraud” a scam?

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