ATM Keypad Scam: What You Need to Know

Allison here. We’ve seen those Facebook posts like the one
below, warning you of various scams or conspiracies. The
general rule with these posts is that they are hoaxes; scam
posts meant to scare you that don’t have much truth behind
them. That’s not the case with this post. The ATM keypad scam
is legitimate.
About the Scam
The ATM keypad scam happens when scammers place a fake
keypad over the real keypad of the ATM. You’re able to conduct
your transaction without any problems, but the fake keypad
transfers your PIN and card information to the scammers. This
scam is legitimate, as there are reports of its use in BANKS NATIONWIDE . Although reports of the fake
keypad haven’t surfaced in the U.S. yet, there is a similar scam
where scammers glue certain keys, rendering them unusable. You
find someone at the bank to report the problem, and as you do

that, the scammer completes the transaction.
The best way to avoid both scams is to use the touchscreen. In
addition, make sure you’re mindful of what ATMs you use—ones
at authorized banks may be more secure than those at
convenience stores. Of course, you still want to do your best to
hide what you’re doing when you are entering your PIN. This
extra precaution will guard against prying eyes trying to access
your pin.