To protect yourself and your cash at ATM, be alert

It’s often hard for Mainers to imagine a need to be cautious with our personal safety. We have lived in a time and place where it was not uncommon to leave the back doors of our homes unlocked and the car in the driveway with the keys in the ignition. Sadly, times are changing. As the holiday shopping season descends upon us, let’s take a moment to review a few tips on ATM safety.

Automated teller machines have been in place for over two decades and appear at various locations, from the tents of the American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront to the local corner store. They have been a tremendous boon, providing consumers ready access to their cash. Convenience. Safety. Security … or so it would seem.

People with bad behavior have assaulted and robbed ATM users, and other transgressors have stolen personal identification numbers, using them to empty accounts. The means are as varied as the creativity of the criminals. As you prepare to do your holiday shopping, here are a few tips to protect yourself at the ATM.

. Always secure that little plastic card in your wallet or purse. Treat is as if it were cash – it is, you know!

. Memorize your personal identification number. Do not have it written on a piece of paper in your purse.

. Be ready for the transaction at the ATM machine. Have your card and PIN ready.

. Stay aware of your surroundings by scanning the area.

. If possible, avoid the ATM at nighttime. Crime rates at ATMs after dark are significantly higher than during daylight hours. Use a machine in a well-lighted area. If you do not feel safe, do not approach the machine. If possible, take a friend with you.

. If you leave your car, lock it and roll up the windows. If you drive up to the machine, park close to the machine and keep your doors locked and windows up, except for the window you are using for the ATM transaction.

. Protect your PIN. There are many ways bad guys can steal your personal identification codes. A crook using binoculars is not uncommon. A “shoulder surfer” – that is, someone who is close to you and looking over your shoulder to see your number – is another type of PIN crook. If someone stands too close behind you in the ATM line, ask them to step back. If they do not comply, cancel your transaction and withdraw to the safety of your car, or use another machine. If the coast is clear, crowd close to the machine and quickly enter your codes so no one can see.

. Quickly take your money, your card and your receipt. The bad guys can pull your receipt out of the trash bin and know exactly how much money you have withdrawn and are now carrying.

. Quickly put the money away and count it later. In the old days, with a flesh-and-blood teller in a bank lobby, we were always taught to stand at the window and carefully count our money. This is exactly the opposite of the process to be used at the ATM. However, do count your money within the safety of your car or home.

. As you prepare to leave the ATM, scan the area for safety threats and put away your card, cash and receipt. Later, always review your monthly bank statement and report any irregularities or suspicious transactions with bank officials or the police.

The holidays and the shopping season can be a great time filled with fun and good cheer. Implementing a few good ATM safety practices will be helpful, not only during the holidays, but also throughout the year.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded, nonprofit consumer organization. Individual memberships $25, business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.