NT NETWORK
PANAJI
In view of the recent incidents of ATM card skimming frauds, Goa police have issued security measures to banks suggesting them to check the ATMs twice every day. Police have also suggested to the banks to ensure that ‘cloning-proof’ ATMs are installed.
“Bank officials should depute responsible personnel to check the ATMs twice everyday in the morning and evening to see if the blinking light at the card slot is hidden and if there is a skimmer fitted on top of the card slot. They should also check if any spy cameras are placed anywhere, especially above the keypad of the ATM,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jaspal Singh has said in the security measures issued to banks.
Another security measure suggested is that the private agency to which the ATM operations are outsourced by the bank should pay attention to the ATM while loading cash and ensure that there is no cloning device added to the card reader slot. Similarly, the agency staff should also check to see if any hidden camera is placed above the keypad. Also, the banks must ensure that cloning-proof ATM machines are installed.
While there have been a number of ATM card skimming fraud cases reported in the state in which several people have lost their money, police have also arrested some accused persons including foreign
nationals in connection with such cases. “Such incidents not only erode the confidence of people in the banking system in general but also put a question mark on the safety and security of ATMs in particular,” Singh said.
He said that while the police department is committed to ensuring a general sense of security among the masses, the security of valuable assets particularly involving cash is the responsibility of the asset owner. Since ATMs are installed in the open and in areas which witness hardly any footfalls, they are more vulnerable to crime, he said.
Other security measures suggested by the police are as follows: Bank customers should be advised to cover PIN pad while entering the PIN. A message to this effect should be displayed at the ATM premises. A security guard should be posted round the clock with fire alarm/lathi, torch etc and also a register should be kept at the ATM booth for police on beat patrol to sign.
The security guard should be hired from a registered security agency only and their antecedents must be verified through police. The list of security guards employed with their mobile numbers should be provided to the local police station. The security guards should have phone numbers of the local manager of his bank, local police station and police control room to contact in case of an emergency.
Additional CCTV cameras with night vision facility should be installed outside the ATM booth facing the entrance of the booth so as to keep a vigil on the person entering the ATM booth and to capture the vehicles passing from front of the ATM, since culprits mostly use vehicles to commit crime.