ATMs: Give Me The Money

How do ATMs work, exactly?

Before ATMs existed, people needed to go to the bank, fill out a withdrawal slip, and go up to a clerk to withdraw money from their accounts. Now, people get a card from their banks that they can use to get cash using an ATM at any time without the need to interact with a person.


ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) are computer data terminals. They are placed in a store or at the bank for anyone to use, usually 24 hours a day.The ATM connects to a host, (an internet provider) and the host connects to the bank of the person using the ATM (also using an internet provider).

 

On the front of an ATM there is a keypad, and often a Braille keypad for the blind. When you insert your bank card or credit card, the ATM 'reads' information on the magnetic strip of the card. The information goes to your bank. You enter your PIN, and this goes to the host and then to the bank. When you enter that PIN, the machine encrypts it (makes it into a code only a computer can decipher). You then 'tell' the machine how much money you want to withdraw, entering numbers on a keypad, or if you want a bank statement telling you your balance.

 

                                  On the side it says, "Life is Too Short for the Wrong Job."

When you withdraw cash, the machine has a sensor inside that gauges the thickness of the bills as they're dispensed. If they are too thick, too thin, damaged, or there are two stuck together, it rejects these bills and they're discarded. Most ATMs can only use $20 bills, so your withdrawal needs to be in multiples of 20. The machine simply counts how many $20s you've asked for. A typical ATM holds about $200,000.

 

The money you've requested moves from the bank to the host and then to the merchant (owner of the ATM).

How can you be more careful when using an ATM?

• Don't write down your PIN number anywhere, and especially not in your phone
• Choose a PIN number that's easy for you to remember but does not use things easily tried by others, such as your birthdate, your address, your child's birthday, your zip code or initials. Here are some ideas:
• First letters of a song, such as Three Blind Mice See How They Run 324, using upper and lowercase letters  (TBMShotR324)
• I'm Late For Work Again sorry 4242 (ILFWAs4242)
• Do not use the same password for any two accounts
• Stand so as to cover the ATM as much as possible, and cover one hand with the other when entering your PIN

• Look for anything out of the ordinary that's been placed on the machine. These might be stand-alone card readers that just take the information from your card to be used by thieves. they come back later, remove the reader, and have info from people who swiped their cards. The users don't realize there was an illegal attachment on the machine. These are called 'skimmers.' There's often a tiny camera placed on an ATM in addition to a device where you swipe your card. They're not often very obvious, and can be 'custom made' to fit exactly over the real slot.

More information about skimming and ways to protect yourself from it:  https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/ways-to-protect-from-card-skimmers-1.aspx#slide=4

• Now that most bank cards have microchips, skimming is less of a problem....but it's still being done, and plenty of businesses still have readers that don't take 'chips' yet
• Skimmers are often placed on gas pumps or on a Red Box for movies
• When your money is dispensed, take it and your card and leave the area right away, don't stand there counting your money.
• Choose a machine in a well-lit and safe area. If you feel uneasy for any reason as you're about to use the machine, leave and find another one.
• Remember, these ideas work at any place where you use a swipe card to make a purchase, as well.

It's not a good idea to try and steal an ATM machine:  https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=stealing+an+atm&&view=detail&mid=2AF1972800DA2E52E91C2AF1972800DA2E52E91C&&FORM=VRDGAR