Absa has distanced itself from an email relating to automated teller machine (ATM) safety that claims that when ATM users type in their PIN in reverse when faced with a possible ATM robbery, the South African Police Service would assist such a user at a specific ATM.
Says Allen Mahadeo, general manager: self-service channel: “We have become aware that an email containing incorrect information about ATM functions has been circulated.”
The e-mail mentions that ATM users can notify the police that they are being robbed at an ATM by entering their PIN in reverse.
Mahadeo says: “We want to warn our customers that this ‘ATM PIN-reversal functionality’ does not exist at Absa ATMs. By entering your PIN in reverse you will not notify the police in any way, nor will cash be dispensed from the ATMs.”
The email claims that if a user’s PIN is 1234 and it is entered as 4321, the ATM will recognise that the PIN is backwards.
“If a PIN is entered in reverse, it will result in the ATM declining the transaction with the error message ‘Invalid PIN entered’. Three attempts of entering the reverse PIN will result in a restrictive hold being placed on the account holder’s card,” says Mahadeo.
The email also claims that the ATM will dispense the money requested but, unknown to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched. This information is incorrect.
The email adds this information was recently broadcast on TV and that it is seldom used because people don’t know it exists.
But Mahadeo says: “Absa has no knowledge of such a broadcast. It is not known to us where this information was broadcast if at all and who or which authority was responsible for issuing the email statement.”