TODAY.AZ / Business

Keep your bank cards safe and sound

23 January 2015 [10:41] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Non-cash payment is gaining popularity in Azerbaijan. It is pleasant indeed to have all your money with you in a small piece of plastic.

However, the bankcards are vulnerable around the world and in the country. For this reason, one must know how to protect his/her money against the criminals.

It is sad to notice but the number of people wishing to rob our cards is on the rise. Moreover, these cybercriminals are improving their technical methods day by day.

In Azerbaijan, several cases have been registered where fraudsters set skimmers in ATMs to read your bankcards’ data.

In 2014, the number of ATMs in Azerbaijan exceeded 2,500 units, growing by 7 percent in comparison with December 2013. Most of the ATMs are concentrated in Baku, which scales up risks.

One of the most notable frauds in this sphere took place last year, when four China citizens penetrated into the systems of the ATMs of the International Bank of Azerbaijan with special tools, chips, video devices, memory cards and other means.

They read out PIN codes belonging to clients of cards. The group was also able to register credit cards of 3,634 clients, and read out and set the PIN code of 21 cards, before their arrest.

The detainees confessed their plan to read the entire information from the card, to go back to China to easily assign money from these cards.

In October 2014, other robbers, inspired by gangster films, blew up the International Bank ATM and steal money.

Nevertheless, such cases are more exception than rule in Azerbaijan. However, the population should be aware about the dangers.

It is a common situation in Baku that others gather together when someone uses services of the ATM.

In Azerbaijan, retired people get their pension benefits by bank cards, and in many cases these old people give their cards to strangers to take out money. These cases have increased the crime.

Every holder of a bankcard should know some easy steps to protect his or her money while using ATM.

Use ATMs are mainly installed in public institutions, departments of banks, major shopping malls, hotels, airports. So, using ATMs located on the streets, exercise maximum caution.

Look around before using the ATM, inspect people who are standing next to you and in case of a growing suspicion, look for another ATM.

Examine the keyboard before typing the PIN code, as well as a slot for receiving a credit card. Any additional equipment on the ATM may mean that your actions are under surveillance.

Cover the keyboard with a hand while entering the PIN.

In case of feeling an unusual behavior of the ATM, just call off the current activity.

Do not leave a receipt at the ATM, as many people do in Baku because it contains important information. You should even keep the bank receipt, as its validity period is 6 months.

Count the money at the ATM.

If you do not understand something while working with the ATM, ask a consultant, but not the strangers in the queue.

These single actions will help you protect your nerves and money.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/138419.html

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